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All Times are Eastern (New York City) Time Zone.
Click for March 2002 BlueBook Entries
FEBRUARY 2002 BlueBook Entries
Date: Thurs, February 28, 2002, 21:52:02
Tony and Chris have a great night planned. Be there!
ALSO:
Info on other upcoming Danfests and Danlists at
h
Date: Thurs, February 28, 2002, 21:45:32
I didn't watch the Grammys but I spoke with my 70-something-year-old mom and she summed up the Grammys this way and I thought it was funny at the time. "That Irish band kept winning as did that lady with all the hype that they said was going to win." And I could kind of tell which songs were going to win just by how they were announced. Except the rap which I hate. That sad song, I think maybe Peter, Paul and Mary used to sing it, 'I'm so sorrowful and sad...,' also won."
Sums it up nicely!
Funny that John and jk's posts should come right about the same time. The marshmallow idea came from a idea I had when starting the BlueBook. When people were asking to start it, I was thinking it could be a "virtual Steely Dan campfire" where we could tell past stories about our Dan experiences since those requesting it were asking for a place to be more Dan-discussion focussed. I find that a lot of the types who requested and gravitate to this place tend to have been on the Dan scene back in the dark ages or in the 70s. They have Dan stories to tell. So the idea was that this would be a place for Steely Dan Campfire stories. Stories like the one jk told about Metheny and Fagen from more than 10 years ago, but with more details.
Hopefully this isn't too long-winded but to explain further: With Steely Dan, an ordinary campfire would be too cute (unless it had busty women in girl scout uniforms à la Janie Runaway or something), and SD is so urban, like where would you have a campfire and I sure didn't have one at my house? So one thing led to another and the wicked/funny/so it seemed roasting of peeps and bunnies came about. Or maybe I had the idea of roasting them even before the BlueBook idea came about--some shots were weirder and/or wicked but I don't want to be too perverse!
So that's the intent of the marshmallows roasting. The intention was to foster an environment of Steely Dan Fan storytelling around some humorously dark campfire. And frankly, I'd love to hear more such stories.
Gypsyqueeninafairytale/Ayanna: My apologies for not responding.
To vauguely answer, not quite clear if Graydon is traveling or what mode we should communicate with him, but methinks he would be interested in a conversation that might take place in the various SD venues, and perhaps follow-up. I was left with that impression. I know this sounds nebulous.
My monitor is popping and turning off and on by itself so I guess I should call it a night. Thanks for reading.
h
Date: Thurs, February 28, 2002, 13:42:02
jk
Date: Wed, February 27, 2002, 21:30:08
Pat Metheny is a GOD. I so wish I could go to the show. Is it true that Metheny played on the New York Rock and Soul Revue for a show? That would have been awesome.
I keep meaning to ask. What is the significance of the Easter marshmallows being held over a stove? I don't get it but maybe I am missing the obvious. Are we supposed to suffer when we post?
John
Date: Wed, February 27, 2002, 20:38:23
Yeah, I know... It's been waaaaaaay too long.
Anyhow, I know this is real short notice but I have two (2) tickets available for the Pat Metheny Group at the Warner Theater tomorrow night in Torrington, CT at 8:00PM. The tickets are Aisle 2 Row CC Seats 115 and 117 (right next to each other).
I paid $45.00 apiece for them but I'm willing to take a best offer from anyone who wants them. I can meet you at the venue before hand at 7:30 in front of the ticket booth.
Thanks,
Joe
PS - Working on a new rev 2.33 of the CDSD... Hopefully in time for the next one...
Date: Wed, February 27, 2002, 20:20:41
Available at your local tower records or best buy. (yeah right)
El Sup
Date: Wed, February 27, 2002, 17:17:19
I never liked Supertramp or the Moody Blues. I lump them in a group of too serious art rockers. They have no sense of humor to balance their excess sense of perfection.
Good night everyone.
Mich
Date: Wed, February 27, 2002, 16:04:03
Although Roger has played with Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band, I'm surprised Roger Hodgson never worked with George Harrison. (Or maybe he did and I don't know it.) Now that I think of it, George sorta looks like a lawn gnome on "All Things Must Pass." They seem to have that "Love/Spirituality/Guitar" thing going. Maybe that's why Ringo hired him.
The various Danfests and Dan Fest are ramping up. Milwaukee, Dan Diego, Baltimore/D.C., and probably Chicago, NYC and New Orleans on deck soon. As always mail list and danfest page linking or hosting available at dandom.com (Currently there are about 40 lists with another 15 waiting to be reactivated.
h
Date: Wed, February 27, 2002, 15:13:40
Date: Wed, February 27, 2002, 03:44:26
Date: Tues, February 26, 2002, 22:13:55
Things enjoyed by the anon who no longer enjoys the yellow book:
cockfighting
Hey Hoops! It wasn't the calculus book, but the book he had inside it. Maybe "Naked Lunch."
Date: Tues, February 26, 2002, 20:21:24
Why does Roger Hodgson of Supertramp always sing like some woman is tickling his testicles with a feather? Or maybe it's not a feather but a gerbil on speed. Let's hope it's the woman with a feather.
Date: Tues, February 26, 2002, 19:59:29
Date: Tues, February 26, 2002, 19:56:11
Peg, Paul: have some Tang. Drink deeply. We love you. I want an entry from BOTH of you. NOW!
Mr. Rag: Thanks for that beautiful story. The particular Aja I met—also named after our heros' most acclaimed album—is also lovely and performs a great service to society, although some would view it as more modest than the beautiful Aja you kindly brought to our attention. This Aja runs the CD department at the Melrose Park, Illinois Best Buy! I buy Steely Dan CDs from her and if selling Steely Dan CDs at Best Buy and being actually knoweldgable about their catalog isn't a worthy cause in life, I don't know what is.
W1P: Free Beer! LOL! Rich, cool name, although with a name like that I think I will skip any of your videos or in person appearances ;-)
Speaking of which:
Steely Dan Tribute Band I hope never to experience:
"D.M.P.B. (DAN MUSIC PLAYED BADLY)"
Cosmic and PGE: Based on your examples, the purpose of copyprotected CDs is obvious: To protect the listening public from the uncontrolled propogation of BAD MUSIC! Just think, what if the Charley Pride and Michael Jackson CDs *weren't* copyprotected? Why that terrible music would be reckessly propopagated everywhere like a plague. Thank g-d the music industry is protecting us for a change!
Jim McCloskey: Thanks for the Van story. He's my other favorite but not as consistent when compared with the Dan's catalog.
Paul: No, I have NEVER finished "The Naked Lunch." Yes, you have nailed my view of Krall. I liked her Christmas CD single from 2-3 years ago and although she's easy on the eyes, I felt like I was getting the jaz equivalent of "Tigerbeat" meets "Fashions of The Times" when it came bundled with a Diana Krall desk calendar. Her music can stand by itself as being at least good without that crap marketing and a calendar frame propping her up.
Hubba Dubba: I lubba the Flasha about dubya! If it's posted here and it's only very remotely about SD, it better be damn hillarious! It was.
Mike in Louisville. Regarding Latisha Pinochet,
Latisha, girl, I L-U-V ya t' pieces but this whole anti-Dan thing is totally like Eminem fan meets Taliban. Do us all a favor. Stop this silliness and take a web design seminar. I'm saying Verdana -2, Honey. What's with your cyan web page anyhow? Compare with our page done up in BlueBook Blue. You're shamin' yourself. An Art Crime against the humanties. Like all Religious Fanatics, you CAN be rehabbed and reintegrated into society. Please come home. Maybe there should be an Eminem to Steely Dan conversion chart. [For the humour-impaired: Yes, I know the Latisha thing is a parody...RIGHT!? ]
THIS morning's Subway ride in: some other guy in the seat in front of me carefully reading a Calculus text UP-SIDE DOWN for the whole 20 minutes I was on the train. (Why do Mathematicians always call it "The Calculus" It's JUST constantly changing numbers, for cryin' outloud. There's a Steely Dan song in here somewhere, with test tubes and a scale.
For a couple of the posts I missed, my response is ZZZZZZzzzzzz z z .
h
Date: Tues, February 26, 2002, 18:02:04
I never prefaced my remarks by saying, "This is all I have to say about Rival's charette:" If I had, then you just might have had a potential reason for jumping to such confusions. Other posts before my post had already done a much better job than I could in their praise for Rival's charette, which I think is a dandy. I was only trying to be of assistance by pointing out the dildo number. That is all. Just trying to help. Really.
I thought this whole charette business was supposed to be FUN, and enjoyable, and a great way to enjoy the company and ideas of fellow Dan fans. Pretty much the same as the purpose for this Guestbook. For good times and sharing with other Dan fans.
Okay? Now, can we all just enjoy?????
"Oh Michael, Oh Jesus, you know I'm not to blame."
~Peg
Date: Tues, February 26, 2002, 15:31:29
CD by Aja Daashuur. I found her web site and her bio says her parents named her 21 years ago after hearing "Aja" playing on a restaurant sound system.
Not familiar with her music, she is really beautiful. Here is her web site:
http://www.ajadaashuur.com/liveindex.asp
It's nice to see the love children of Don and Walt hit it big!!
Mark in Boston
Date: Tues, February 26, 2002, 14:14:54
Date: Tues, February 26, 2002, 13:45:47
The record company had to manufacture some un-copyprotected CDs, but alas, they might just as well not have bothered as few liked it enough to play it anyway...
Wonder whatever happened to the idea that you as a consumer could buy an album with only so many playbacks in it? After that you'd have to get a fresh copy...
Why can't the record industry stay off of our backs and do what the rest of the business world seem so accomplished at doing; lay off a few more workers to keep the bigwigs in luxury houses, luxury cars and other little bits of life's essentials in these trying times?
"Love music ... not the business of music"
Date: Tues, February 26, 2002, 08:23:19
I'm out of this loop so sorry if I don't participate in the current discussion.
HI HO HI HO! Public Service Announcement:
On MArch 24th, at the Igloo Bar and Grill in Edmonton, meet the NAKED BUNCH, voted best Steely Dan tribute band EVER in Canada.
That's the
Igloo Bar and Grill
24, West Edmonton Mall
Edmonton, Canada
Shows at 8 pm and 11 pm. 20 Canadian dollars cover charge. No French people, no pets. Leave your sleigh dogs at the door, please.
All you Steely Dan fans out there will be THRILLED to finally hear your favorites as lifted straight off the record. Just like the record, yes, minus the vocals, of course. In that department, our Stompin' Tom Connors dead ringer does a fine job.
American of all faith and socio-economic status are most welcomed.
Special hello to my friends all over the world, the members of the Steely Fan band, The Steely Damned, The Danny Steele Orchestra, Stealin' Dan, Naked Lunch, Stilig Dan from Norway and all those I forgot. Oh... and the legendary Which One's Pink?, of course. Hi DAN!
Glad to finally join the fray. See you there.
Yours truly
Rich, founding member of the NAKED BUNCH. That's N-A-K-E-D B-U-N-C-H.
Accept no substitute.
Date: Tues, February 26, 2002, 03:24:26
Date: Mon, February 25, 2002, 23:56:22
Anon#143234
Date: Mon, February 25, 2002, 14:47:09
In the best tradition of tooting your own horn, I wanted to let you know about the many changes to Under The Banyan Trees with Steely Dan. We recently moved to our own domain and performed a complete site re-design. If you haven't stopped by the website in a while, may I suggest you come by and take a look!
Many, many improvements have been made. We removed all the frames, made the site much easier to navigate and installed a few new features, not the least of which is a completely new guestbook script. This new script affords the moderator (me) a considerable amount of control over content. Control I never had with the older Seanet script. I implemented this new script last November. Since this change the guestbook has received over 3000 posts and I'd have to say 5, maybe 6 of them have been negative and inappropriate. If you avoided the old "yellow" book because of the bad vibe that permeated, you should give it another try! While you're at it, sign up for your own banyantrees.net e-mail address. It's free!
StAlphonzo
Date: Mon, February 25, 2002, 14:42:47
Clare
Date: Mon, February 25, 2002, 12:30:38
WoW
############################################
Date: Mon, February 25, 2002, 11:12:35
Anyone ever notice how there seems to be a Steely Dan lyric that is 'just right' for the subject of every email? Ahh, it's probably just me. lol.
Saturday March 2nd we will be meeting begining at 8:00 p.m. at The Estate, 2423 North Murry Ave. This venue was selected by unanimous decision by Tony and I which made it very easy to be unanimous. Small, dark and jazzy is the best way to describe it. I will be sending a follow up to this with the exact directions and a map. I'll also include Tony's cell number in case of a directional emergency. They do not serve food there so it would be wise to stop somewhere for dinner. If you're not familiar with this area you could go to http://www.onmilwaukee.com>www.onmilwaukee.com for restaurants in the area.
We look forward to seeing all of you on Saturday.
Peace, love and Dan,
Chris, Tony and the Dandom, et. al.
"The danger on the rocks is surely past"
Date: Mon, February 25, 2002, 00:41:35
Date: Sun, February 24, 2002, 20:14:32
Birthday, Feb 20, 2002: Rock singer- musician- producer Walter Becker (Steely Dan) is 52.
This week in 1970, Joni Mitchell announced that she was retiring from live performing. Six months later she was back performing.
This week in 2001, Steely Dan upset Eminem for Album of the Year at the Grammys.
Date: Sun, February 24, 2002, 19:14:23
I was just catching up on the archives when I read about Hoops being a VAN MORRISON fan as well.
I've had an encounter but sorry to say it was seemingly less than pleasant for The Man.
I remember cycling down Burlington Road in Dublin in the late winter or early spring of 1979, and seeing this very familiar figure on the footpath on the left hand side as I was going down. I had time to think: `Jesus fuck: He's supposed to be in exile.' Our eyes met for a second. He realized that he had been recognized, and turned away in disgust!
So that is my brief encounter of the Van kind. My understanding is that Becker and Fagen maybe are not as aloof.
Jim
Date: Sun, February 24, 2002, 13:11:30
You are invited to our yearly birthday party for our own,Mr.Sticks! Featuring a full evening of music with The Steely Fan Band!
Admission is Free!!! Get there early for seats as we expect a full house!
More details soon!
Samson- Our Manager
Date: Sun, February 24, 2002, 03:00:03
There is a website for Mojo Magazine. "Snowbound" posted a link for a thread in the St. Al's guest book for a discussion about The Monkees versus Steely Dan, who is better, or something.
I went there, read it, couldn't believe that it was serious, and posted my own message there. I immediately got flamed, and then, things got a little ugly. I am posting the link for you all to check it out. I think you will find it amusing (and possibly at my expense ! Ha-Ho !!)
http://ubb2.mojo4music.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=001814
Feel free to post your own opinions there, but beware. It is not a Dan-friendly environment, and intelligence is, well, dubious at best.
Steveedan
Date: Sun, February 24, 2002, 02:54:41
I had been absent from here for a long time so I went back to the September posts are read all of them up through last week, so that I could be back in the swing of things "blue". I learned a lot of great things here (lately, St. Al's guest book has been devoid of Dan-related subjects) in short time. That website for Matt and Amanda is great. The Charette entry by My Rival (if I credited the wrong person, please forgive me ...) was great. I could never rise to such an occasion. That one's a "Keeper".
W1P - So, did you meet and greet the "other" Floyd band? (Is this like "Pork. The other white meat?) I ask this in the spirit of the "great society" of like-minded musicians who love to pay tribute to their favorites (Pink Floyd and Steely Dan). And speaking of The Steely Damned in San Diego last weekend ...
2 of our Pretzel Logicians were there - our lead singer "W", and our "1st chair" guitarist "M". Both were suitably impressed. We gave a CD copy of our rehearsal/demo to Bob Tedde. I was hoping that you would have seen "W" there, but he told me that he did not get a chance to see you. They were impressed with Caves Of Altamira a lot, and also of I.G.Y. I was told that the second keyboard player also plays guitar, percussion and the harmonica (specifically on I.G.Y.).
I won't incriminate anyone, but I will tell you that I heard about 6 songs from their set that night, and I really liked what I heard. Hank Easton is truly great, and it is very clear that everyone does a fine job in the band. The Steely Damned has been together for 8 years. Our new band has had about 8 full-band rehearsals since November 2001, which is when we started to construct the band. We've got our work cut out for us, but that is all part of the fun.
Needless to say, when the new band starts to book gigs out there, I will do my typical SHAMLESS PLUGGING. Damn the slings and arrows.
Steveedan
Date: Sat, February 23, 2002, 23:03:04
You ARE correct that Rival named the wrong dildo. It's one of the few parts of the book I was able to read. Does anyone ever finish the entire Naked Lunch?
However, I thought that Rival's contest entry as whole, despite a minor single detail (typo?) was hysterically funny and brilliant. One of funniest things I have read in Dan Land in quite a while. While you add the humorous, self-deprecating detail of being a nit picker, I think you could have added some applause for Rival's great post/contest entry. Then again maybe you didn't like it which is your perrogative. Or maybe you grew up without much approval from your parents/guardians.
But my point is when I see nit picking like that without any commendation of making the effort, I guarantee that you've turned off a few shy people of mediocre talents like myself from producing their own modest proposals to this event. I don't need to experience the same. If that's how you respond to a great entry, I'm dreading what you will say about mine. I don't need it. And BTW, I don't see others entering, let alone yours.
Regarding Krall, yes, she is talented but she should really get away from those assholes at her record company who keep marketing her more for her looks, as vivacious as she is. What's more, would today's record industry give her as much support if she were not a "looker?" I think not. I don' t think that's good for her in the long-run. Several months ago, I read about a critically acclaimed and very talented jazz vocalist who took her life because she was in her 50's and she couldn't get a gig because she wasn't quite as babe-looking as she once was. How sad.
Humbly Submitted,
PAUL
Date: Sat, February 23, 2002, 20:51:47
Naked Lunch states that it was Steely Dan III (not II) from Yokohama. The book graphically discusses what happened to SD I and SD II. They were no longer in existence by the time the scene involving SD III occurs.
Michelle, I heartily agree that they should put artists that people actually care about in the Rock Hall. I live only about 4 hours from Cleveland and have not been there yet, mostly because it offers so little appeal. The last time I was at their Web site they were obsessed with Little Richard's sparkly clothing.
On a brighter note, has anybody else out there like me finally figured out that Diana Krall is AMAZING!!!! What a jazz singer!
~Peg
Date: Sat, February 23, 2002, 08:01:38
Date: Sat, February 23, 2002, 03:46:52
A good chuckle:
http://www.geocities.com/ed_flanick/files.htm
El Sup
Date: Fri, February 22, 2002, 23:20:19
I must confess, Mike. I'm dumbfounded as to what you wrote means. My only response is:
"With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes
Say, has anybody seen my Sweet Gypsy Rose?"
I can't believe THAT single beat out "Bodhisattva" as a hit in the Autumn of 1973. We had crap equivalent to Britney back even then.
W1P's escapades are fun to hear about. Any chance you'll play outside California? Let us know. I'd come see you guys play. Are there any female Steely Dan cover bands?
R J
Date: Fri, February 22, 2002, 20:05:23
Sat February 23 The Mystic Theater Petaluma, CA
Mon February 25 The Sweetwater Mill Valley, CA
Tue February 26 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA
We went to see them last night at the House of Blues in LA and it was quite good, if lightly attended. Because of the light attendance, their set was limited to four songs (although this is Floyd so it was like a 35 minute set) which included Sorrow, One of My Turns, Young Lust and Echoes. I think you will really enjoy their musicianship.
In the meantime, I'm interested in hearing the reaction of the Pretzel Logicians to The Steely Damned.
Date: Fri, February 22, 2002, 14:57:48
Date: Fri, February 22, 2002, 14:37:58
"Smokey Sunday
El Sup
;-)
Date: Fri, February 22, 2002, 10:56:53
Half way into reading the story, this guy who I see on the subway most mornings is sitting across from me and all of a sudden he whips out a can of Right Guard deodorant (original scent) and starts spraying himself all over! And he's wearing a zipped up winter coat. The whole end of the car starts smelling like Right Guard.
So it made me think, maybe next tour, Donald and Walter should perform an updated version of "Everyone's Gone To The Movies,"
"Kids if you want some fun, Father La Page is your man…"
Maybe they could also update "Kid Charlemagne" to be about that young enthusiastic priest in Western Illinois who was running the crystal meth and designer drug still.
h
Date: Fri, February 22, 2002, 10:30:06
I have two New York Rock and Soul Revue lithographs,
one of which I am selling. Signed by Fagen/Scaggs/McDonald/Snow.
Matted and Framed. $200. E-mail me if interested.
Thanks
Date: Thurs, February 21, 2002, 22:25:42
Mr. Graydon--FABULOUS interview. I don't speak guitar, but you made the whole thing come alive. PS, not a bad damn solo either. Please give us more!!
Date: Thurs, February 21, 2002, 19:20:30
Ayanna
Date: Thurs, February 21, 2002, 18:49:43
W1P: Fine report.
Graydon is interested in feedback about the interview. Don't be shy. Post here or send to digest@dandom.com if you like.
Be well and play nice.
h
Date: Thurs, February 21, 2002, 17:44:32
Horoscopes! Now that's an ANGLE on forecasting what will happen for Steely Dan this year. Which reminds me, does the Steely Dan II in The Naked Lunch have a manufacture or birthday? Maybe THAT'S the horoscope we should read.
Rival has done a sufficient job of scaring me away from doing a charette. Scary and funny all at once. But it sounds a bit like Marilyn Manson's visit. Tripe----BLECHHHHH!!!!!!
One thing about the Rock and Roll hall of Fame. Shouldn't they pick musical acts not on significance but on how much they will draw people to the place? They could make more money then. That's the idea, if you want to know the truth.
Another day, another dollar!
Mich
Date: Thurs, February 21, 2002, 16:19:55
Hoops: Did you see EJ at the NBA All-Star game with what's left of the original band? He sounded in fine form with the That Train Don't Come Here No More song from his Latest (last?) One. Back to his blues basics...however, things then degraded rapidly when EJ & the boys corraled one of his lame 80s hits (I'm Still Standing) to end the halftime show...maybe an accordion was in order...
Date: Thurs, February 21, 2002, 12:48:07
Date: Wed, February 20, 2002, 20:25:26
TORTURE IS THE MAIN ATTRACTION:
PART ONE
This part of the exhibit features recreations of session players performing at Steely Dan recording sessions, take after take. In a special accomodation, former session players whose performances weren't used are provided with a special isolation dome. They have the opportunity to stand under the dome and shout out obscenities at Becker/Fagen. But (heh, heh), the cursing is amplified beyond the threshold of pain and, alas, only the rejected session player can hear it as they go deaf! Everyone else, including Becker/Fagen, are moved to diabolical laughter as they get to watch these studio hacks suffer on closed-circuit T.V.
Remedies for repetitive stress injuries are also demonstrated in this space, but patrons and/or said session players must bring their own drugs, braces, ACE bandages and voluptuous nurse(s).
An instructional movie showing techniques for repairing worn analog tape is shown daily at 10:00 a.m., Noon, 3:30 p.m. and at a special Midnight showing where patrons are encouraged to dress like Walter and/or Donald à la 'Rocky Horror Picture Show.' Since torture is indeed the main attraction, the movie is shown "standing room only" for fifty patrons, on a 4" diagonal B & W T.V. set.
PART TWO
Patrons are greeted at the door to this circular room by a Book of Liars placed open upon a pedestal at its geometric center. The Book of Liars contains the names of all in the music business who have ever crossed Donald and Walter. Patrons are invited to also sign in if they believe their names have inadvertently been left off. After all, even if it is a Book of Liars, most of these low-lifes would have their egos bruised to be omitted. This way, even those petty égoistes from assorted Dan Fan Internet discussion venues and/or music industry scheisters unknown to Becker/Fagen get to take part in even the most dubious of self-promotion. Every hour on the hour, the Book of Liars is engulfed in flames as a result of a propane burner mounted at the top of the pedestal, just beneath the book. After said Book of Liars goes up in flames and its ashes crumble to the ground, a devilishly beautiful buxom vixen in a skimpy red suit and fake horns, carrying a pitchfork, places a fresh copy on the pedestal for next hour's festival of torch.
At the rear of the ROOM OF NOOSES, opposite the entrance and behind the Book of Liars, is the ROASTING RACK O' RECORD EXECS. Ideally, this would be a rack where evil record execs could be stretched and tortured and then roasted. But last I checked, it was still illegal to physically harm actual record execs, no matter how notorious their reputation and their crimes against humanity. Instead, the following family-oriented activity is substituted.
In a corporate tie-in, a first for Steely Dan, but un-countable for the Hall of Fame, the local Kroger's invites potential exhibit goers to stop by their meat department on the way to the Hall of Fame. There, they can select the cut of meat that most embodies the music business exec and/or low-life they believe has harmed Donald and Walter the most. (Tongue, pig brains and tripe first come to my mind.) Exhibitors roast the meat and have a family, "sit-down" picnic right then and there.
You may ask yourself, "Where do the nooses come in?" Around the perimeter of this circular room hang a series of nooses featuring effigies of said derelict music biz types. A special fan system allows the faux corpses to gently and realistically sway in the breeze indefinitely. Fun!
PART THREE
Greeted by Ruthie, an out-of-work Kmart check-out girl, patrons are given a silver key that opens a red door which marks the portal to this stage of the exhibit. This room is a survey of the music and song of Steely Dan, as told through the various sexual escapades, follies and freakocities first introduced by the works of Becker and Fagen. Here patrons will have the opportunity to experience sundry marital appliances (many they never even knew existed); have the opportunity to judge for themselves if Buzz is indeed a fairy; and understand things that pass for knowledge—as if anything in THIS musée is really "Knowledge." See the gold teeth!!! Witness Spanish kissin' and SEEEEEE IT GLISSSTEN!!! See the parking space where the "milk truck" eased in, whatever *the fuck* THAT means! And experience the original Steely Dan II from Yokohama. And talk about a gift shop! Amazing! More!!!
NOTE: For parents squeamish about sex ed for their kids, this room is a fine educational substitute. Send the entire family! Voulez, voulez, voulez-vous—Oooo la la!
With this exhibit relegated to a dark hidden corner of Yawn "Ahh-shja" Wenner's musuem, patrons exit the exhibit through a decrepit, leaky loading dock where the fans are encouraged to walk between raindrops back to their car door.
That's my idea…still needs work, I know. Whaddya expect for 25 minutes—it IS a CHARETTE, you know?
P.S. Any resemblance to hell is strictly coincidental. Maybe.
Date: Wed, February 20, 2002, 16:30:18
Kurt Cobain on the same day........hmmmmm
Speaking of the famous, is Nigey Lennon really a blood relative of Frank Zappa or am I misunderstanding the promo materials???
Sometimes I likes U2, sometimes I hates them. I like how they give the establishment its run for the money. Other times, it's as if they like the establishment for it's money. And they like that money just a little too much. They have a lot to say that's serious and then they end up taking themselves too seriously. Like Bruce Springsteen, they are great, but they think of themselves as even greater. Or they come across that way.
My radio station didn't mention Walter Becker in their Birthday section. Time to switch stations. I'll do it for them. Happy BD, WB. Should be a national holiday.
Dave
Date: Wed, February 20, 2002, 13:21:23
From one of your loyal Steely Dan Tribute band musician fans.
We don't hold a candle to you, Donald, and Co., but we perservere to continue to wave the flag.
We all look forward with great anticipation to the next musical 'event' you churn out.
Many happy returns (but not at the retail outlets).
Steveedan
Date: Wed, February 20, 2002, 12:49:28
Here's one:
Feb 20, 2002
Pisces's Birthday Reading
Can you imagine yourself taking on a do-it-yourself project? Renovating a room, perhaps? That would be the perfect project for you this year. Either that, or moving. Make your reality fit your dreams.
Celebrity birthdays on February 20th: Walter Becker, Cindy Crawford, Sidney Poitier, Kelsey Grammer, Kurt Cobain, Ansel Adams, Andrew Shue, Gloria Vanderbilt
Hmmmm......it sounds like Walter's going to be hanging around the house a lot this year. No tour?????
WoW
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Date: Wed, February 20, 2002, 12:40:52
Happy birthday!
Peace and Love,
'flower
Date: Wed, February 20, 2002, 10:44:30
Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 22:01:21
Personally I've been digging U2 quite a bit lately....That and reading Naked Lunch 'cause I am studying up for my Charette. Anybody out there also read it and figured it out? Words do not describe it, if you've not seen it. 'Nuff said.
~Peg
Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 21:02:27
Why do on line CD stores lump him with Steely Dan?
No Sting nominations?
Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 19:55:28
I can't believe John Stewart is hosting the Grammy's again this year. He was terrible last year. I don't think D + W will show, if you ask me. Wasn't holding their bladder for 5 hours (as they noted at sd.com) enough last year? Why would they again?
Not sure who to root for this year, as if it really matters, and I don't plan to watch, as if anyone else cares. Dylan has my vote for sure, and I think U2 is getting too much attention. Have had Elton John's new album since last Summer and I still think it's his best since Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, although it borrows from Madman and Tumbleweed. (Don't ask about the videos or the celeb thing with him, could care less and haven't seen them, don't plan to.) If you have to borrow from an EJ album, those would be the two to borrow from. All based on the premise that EJ was your idea of bubblegum as his music was for me. Instead of Eminem, EJ is behind Ryan Adams, as if it matters. But Adams is a so-so take-off of Dylan...why not Dylan?
Speaking of videos, it's just sad to see how they have gotten so much attention. [Whine, whine, whine] So often, all the great songs have great visuals from what I imagine them to be about rather than what some video producer tells me what it should be about. I think that is one enduring facet of most music prior to MTV, not to mention jazz.
On some weird soapbox, Man I sound like an old fart.
h
P.S. Did I say Happy Birthday to Walter Becker?
Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 18:29:45
From: "Brighton, Jack" <jackb@WILL.uiuc.edu>
Thanks ! Hey Craig, unless you're too busy with that Britney Spears feature, you wanna run with this?
Cheers,
-----Original Message-----
From: Mr. Sardonicist
Writing one year later....
Hey just a reminder for your morning Birthday Feature for tomorrow on Wednesday the 2oth of Feb
.
Walter Becker, the sardonic twin of Steely Dan was born on Feb 20, 1950 and turns 52.
Thanks!
> From: Mr. Sardonicist
Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 18:25:22
HAPPY ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY OF YOUR GRAMMMY TOOO!
Mich.
Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 18:22:02
Would you like a birthday kiss?
Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 13:27:15
Every year, it pisses me off when morning radio shows have their daily list of notables whose birthdays are on a given day and they forget Walter's. Yet they remember Donald's. (Except KMTT which is great to both of them. YAyyy!)
So maybe we could all wish Walter a happy birthday by emailing or calling our favorite Radio Station and reminding them to include Walter on tomorrow's list.
Just a thought.
Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 12:37:03
Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 12:11:01
Happy 52nd Birthday !!!
Best wishes to you, Delia, Sayan and Kawai.
Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 11:03:13
In other Rites of Passage:
Howard K. Smith, R.I.P. ; Covered Do It Again in the late 70-s.
WoW
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Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 10:37:09
Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 09:57:46
Is it OK if the bluebook crew crashes your birthday party
later on? I hope so, this ice cream cake is melting...
:)
Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 09:21:34
this week the internet vibees connect so amazingly ... swifter than the wind, i don't know ...
and about the Yellow ... Steely Dan is a lot more than just (facts about) the music and their audience is a crowd of all kinds of people, sometimes their lyrics and topics come alive in how we relate to others, good or bad. Main thing is humor as well i guess and although i don't agree it can be called a clique, some people have become friends more than others, but this isn't different from what we experience in real life, at home, at work, at school, in our neighbourhoods. to me the Yellow in the two years i've been there, on and off, enabled to send and receive packages containing good music, get in touch with musicians across that big pond since i live in Europe and lots lots more. Sometimes when the Full Moon and tides urge us, we get into eachother's hair but i sure would miss the clashes of personalities and all in there, for they also mark our individuality.
It's sit down comedy, all kinds of. Love and hate it :-)
The more venues the merrier. We can make the Steely Dan Web Roam a day and nighttime job this way!
G.
Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 08:56:49
7-9 a.m. Eastern time
NIGEY LENNON and JOHN TABACCO
on WUSB, 90.1 FM Stony Brook, NY
Real Audio Webcast at www.wusb.org
Nigey and John will celebrate the 52nd (ouch) birthday of Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker with
rare Steely Dan recordings, personal recollections, and suspense-filled random events!
ps, Reinventing the Wheel and that Brain Tap Shuffle which started the itch in the first place is now filling up this room :-)
G.
Date: Tues, February 19, 2002, 08:42:05
Swab the deck, you rootin tootin cowboys!
the requisite Steely Dan relate: pirates and cowboys I am sure were part of the Bard reading material.....
Date: Mon, February 18, 2002, 22:17:50
Keith--I have a number of vices that are insurmountable; the SiS GB is one of them. History? Sheer stubbornness? Peradams? Inertia? Probably all of the above. As has been said, it doesn't matter; there are now so many Steely venues that people can gravitate about wherever they wish. Did you take a gander at Hoops' cocktail napkin on the Charette page at www.dandom.com/charette? Has a lot of the components you mentioned! Kind of like a big Steely garage sale. Or it reminds me of an extremely detailed reconstruction of Sherlock Holmes' study I saw in San Francisco.
Snowbound--Very cool.
Date: Mon, February 18, 2002, 21:43:15
on dissing the yellow, my 2 cents:
yes, it is a clique, but one that has been formed from, for some (i've been in almost 2 years and i'm still feelin newbie-ish), years of cyber-connecting in intense manners about steely dan related discussions and get togethers on for concerts - usually, when someone new comes in or a veteran brings up steely dan items, people jump on it, forgetting how much they like discussing them and almost forgetting why they click into the yellow in the first place - it's a like a room about steely dan where steely dan is assumed
i know i have met some really great cyber friends in the yellow, learned about other bands i wouldn't have otherwise, and, i have gotten an enhanced steely understanding from the blue, love them both in different ways and for distinct reasons
Date: Mon, February 18, 2002, 15:14:30
John: I've not heard of any alternate versions or vocals for "Do It Again." Of course, the Waylon Jennings version is something entirely different.
h
Date: Mon, February 18, 2002, 11:55:40
Oleander and Hoops deny that they have been pressured by Russian judges and the International Charette Committee to vote for Russian Charette entries. Still the Canadian charette team is fearful they will be beat out by the Russians.
More this evening on World News Tonight with Canadian Peter Jennings.
WoW
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Date: Mon, February 18, 2002, 04:37:24
Date: Mon, February 18, 2002, 00:37:59
John
Date: Mon, February 18, 2002, 00:21:31
Thanks for posting the Roger Nichols article.
I guess Roger has had more of an influence on the finished
SD product than any of us ever suspected.
Date: Sun, February 17, 2002, 15:38:56
Date: Sun, February 17, 2002, 14:20:18
Can't believe a year since the Grammys and two since 2vN was released. Amazing.
Sean, Keith, etc: "Which" Hunt is boring.
All IMHO.
h
Date: Sun, February 17, 2002, 13:45:37
Bill,
Regarding F.M. Thought you might like to see what Roger Nichols said about it in a music forum a few weeks back along with a few other things.
FM: When we recorded the song Donald and walter recorded two different solos on the end. They liked the guitar solo best, so that was the one for the soundtrack album (never actually on a Steely Dan album). I was supposed to take the tape the next day after mixing to Glenn Glenn Sound to lay in the song to picture at the opening and over the end credits. I suggested "Why don't we mix both end solos, and use the guitar version at the front of the movie, and the sax version over the end titles." They liked the idea, so that is what we did. In the mix of the sax ending I did not fade it, and I lengthened the end by looping back to various points so it was hard to tell there was any repeat (the credit roll was about 10 minutes). I went down to the film post house, layed in the two versions, and went home.
When it came time to release the box set we decided to use the sax ending because the record that came out in the '70s had the guitar ending.
The laugh at the end is not an edit, it is Donald saying "Uh-huh!"
Movies:
Donald and Walter initially wrote Movies for Denny Dougherty of the Mammas and Papas. We recorded it in 1970 or 1971. I always liked the song. I kept trying to talk them into using it on an album, and finally they agreed and it was re-cut, thus two versions.
There were always extra cuts that didn't make it on to albums. The ones on the box set are the only ones with vocals. The others never had lead vocals on them or were finished.
Any Major Dude was on an album. As soon as I can remember which one, I will post.
There are some bootleg albums of writing demos that they did that were never even cut with a band... Some from before Steely Dan when Walter and Donald were with Jay and The Americans.
That should hold you for now
Roger
Date: Sun, February 17, 2002, 13:04:03
Oleander and Hoops: I don't have any idea what to say about how the Hall of Fame display should look. I do have some ideas of what artifacts I would like to see in such a display.
I'd like to see in no specific order
1. the legendary tape machines from the "Katy Lied" sessions
2. Donald's piano that he grew up playing that supposedly had to get shipped back and forth between New York and Ohio
3. One of Walter's first instruments
4. Some early hand-written sheet music for "Do It Again" since it was their first big hit and you knew then we'd be hearing from them for a long, long time.
5. WENDL II
6. Some large speakers or audio equipment from the 1970s tour.
7. Maybe the desk they wrote at while in the Brill Building.
8. Mixing console from one of the early sessions, compared with equipment for TAN.
9. Early Tour posters
10. Tour poster or ad announcing their return to live shows in 1993 and maybe even New York Rock and Soul or New York Nights.
I guess I WOULDN'T want to see that stupid hand on the back of CTE. or too much Skunk memorabilia. Perhaps the guitar that Eliott Randall played the solo on "Reelin'" on would be cool since it is considered one of the best solos ever.
I don't know that the above is a design but that's my ideas.
My two bits on Sean, Hoops and Oleander's comments about the yellow pages are that I will go there or in the chat room and attempt to discuss Steely Dan. Even some basic questions like whether or not a certain song was played last tour. Maybe they don't know the answer, but then I WILL get the answer in other Dan forums. People there are too busy discussing non-Steely Dan stuff to ever respond to me, instead they talk about what they ate last night. I'm afraid it IS like click. In a lot of posts Steely Dan seems secondary. Even what St Al posts usually has little to do with Steely Dan. I was pretty turned off when he said he doen't even listen to them that much. I guess that is OK for them and, like Hoops says, everyone prefers their flavor. So I don't go to the yellow pages with the expectation that Dan discussion is necessarily the order the day. There other outlets, like this one and Yahoo!, that I prefer. To each their own. But those are the reasons I don't post on the yellow pages.
All my two bits! Have a good day!
Keith
Date: Sun, February 17, 2002, 12:30:35
Date: Sun, February 17, 2002, 05:37:00
C
Date: Sat, February 16, 2002, 23:26:35
WoW--I'll be on tenterhooks.
Sean--Maybe it's because nobody knew the answers.
Date: Sat, February 16, 2002, 18:54:55
Sean: Actually Joni Mitchell said something very similar about Whitney Houston. I think it was in "Musician," if I'm not mistaken, maybe four years ago. So you are in good company.
Also to Sean; Regarding the various Steely Dan Venues. People should
participate where they want to. Everybody has their favorite flavor. Glad to be a part of the community. Pat, myself and others often make an effort to share what we are up to. Pat and I and others have recently discussed the guestbooks, mail lists etc. I'm always interested in hearing what oether think and what could be better. If there are problems, concerns, etc., let me know. Complements, everyone deserves credit. I'm glad to help with all these little web projects, charettes, photo albums, Danfest pages, etc for myself and others, and consider myself to be very, very lucky to have the opportunity to go-off on Dan-inspired Dan Fan tangents like that. This sounds boring as I write this. Enough of my babbling already, OK? :-) I appreciate your kind words but that's not the whole picture.
W1P: Thanks for posting info about your travels. Just ignore those who are bored enough to post disses. BTW: I'd post everywhere when I have an event. Glad that Dan fans can get together and want people from as many Dan venues as possible to know.
Fly low--be cool.
h
Date: Sat, February 16, 2002, 14:09:10
Date: Sat, February 16, 2002, 12:45:24
Now that's sheer wit, if I ever encountered it.
Date: Sat, February 16, 2002, 12:38:17
--Congratulations are also in order to Hoops McCay for keeping this venue up. I pop in at the alt group, the yellow book and elsewhere. Maybe not the volume here but always the substance. I guess we have to thank Hoops twice, for the blue and giving the yellow the bite in the ass to get itself in order! (I don't get why St. Al now wants to do a digest.)The yellow is simply a high school clique. I can't eeven get Steely Dan questions or comments replied to there.
--I was listening to Whitney Houston on the store muzak this morning. I realized what a waste of an amazing voice! All those suburbanite housewives won't buy her stuff since she's a crackhead. Why doesn't she become an artist instead. Tone down the Michael-Bolton-passing-kidney-stone vocals. Pick up where Billie Holiday left off. Learn more about subtlety. Get some good material. Sing about the pain of being married to Bobby Brown. Or sing about the pain of being so stupid as to marry Bobby Brown. Babe, get intimate, do clubs, dump David Foster!(Did David Foster ever appear on a Steely Dan song?) Sing a quiet song once in a while, maybe you do but your Carol Burnett Tarzan voice is such a turn off to me getting past anything but your most ubiquitous nuclear power ballads. And this leads me to the ultimate rehab for Whitney. APPLY TO BE A BARE-MIDRIFF NEXT TOUR! Of course, you will have to pay Steely Dan for the rehab stay in the Steely Dan Orchestra. But the reform will be worth it!
--Enough of the "Enough of _______ now for a while, okay?" okay? IMHO, lame, overused quote, lacking any wit or originality any more.
--I enjoy the updates on your band Mr. W1P. Being in Boston, it is unlikely that I will get to L.A. to hear you, but keep a'goin'. Your enthusiasm shows.
--I think Walter Becker's birthday is Wednesday the 20th. If so, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WALTER!
Date: Sat, February 16, 2002, 09:26:08
great interview transcript down there, have to say. Way to go.
Date: Sat, February 16, 2002, 02:10:20
Date: Sat, February 16, 2002, 00:15:44
I found the comment about Roger Nichols "Punching in"
abilities to be very interesting. I agree with Jay,
"FM" is my favorite song too.
Date: Fri, February 15, 2002, 16:10:56
Hoops, i listened to dandom radio once and liked the Nigey Lennon song .. i received a press release and put it up in Yellow, she saw it and emailed me. Now she is gonna send me her CD(rom) including photo's and interviews and i will add a page on my Walking Satellites about her and the music and Candy Zappa :-)
Aja was my fav SD CD of last week, couldn't live without it ...
Have a nice weekend everyone,
G.
Date: Fri, February 15, 2002, 15:34:40
Its about time,somebody else besides me sees that.
Ayanna
Date: Fri, February 15, 2002, 14:56:26
Amazing interview with Jay, Phillippe!
Oleander. I just tossed it off here. I will try to polish it maybe. Nice to be complemented.
Have a great weekend everyone!
WoW
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Date: Fri, February 15, 2002, 14:23:42
Why Can't Steely Dan play "Dr. Woo" Live anymore
Marcelo
A great fan!!!
Date: Fri, February 15, 2002, 13:01:05
Thanks, Jay, Brian Sweet,and Phillipe, as well as Hoops.
Jay rips!
Blue, the mark of quality.
Yellow, well, you know...
just kidding- it was too easy!
Date: Thurs, February 14, 2002, 22:45:13
THANK YOU very much! GREAT READING!
One of my favorite parts is when Jay talks about how anyone who has ever played with Steely Dan, should never feel any sour grapes. AMEN!
Thanks again!
h
Date: Thurs, February 14, 2002, 22:18:24 1. Joe Graydon TV show 1951 Even more recently, Jay has re-released his album AIRPLAY FOR THE PLANET. It
is newly remastered and features a new song. It was never released in the States
or most other territories. Dan fans will appreciate this album as it is quality
pop.
Date: Thurs, February 14, 2002, 17:14:10
other bands who should have had the wisdom of The Police:
Floyd--should have packed it in after The Wall
Stones--became hacks after Some Girls
but not our heroes. to me that was one of the unappreciated wonders of TAN. they put out high quality product after a long absence which didn't just rehash their old sound.
I'll take that back if Gaslighting Abby isn't added to the set list for the next tour
Date: Thurs, February 14, 2002, 15:49:09
Wow! O'myg-d! No Shit!? ! I never knew that!!!! Just too weird!!! I bet he thought the song was about him!
Date: Thurs, February 14, 2002, 14:23:33
Date: Thurs, February 14, 2002, 10:32:07
:*
My ears were ringing Dave, "cyber-hearing" my name in vain, that's why I popped in here.
My dream concert vote (carefully crafted theme, thank you):
FM
2vN
New Frontier
I Got the News
Don't Take Me Alive (well yeah)
Sign in Stranger (AIA format, my favorite)
Show Biz Kids - sung by Walter
Any Major Dude (new babe choir version)
Only a Fool Would Say That (re-constituted)
Tomorrow's Girls
West of Hollywood
Here at the Western World
encore
Bright Lights
Janie Runaway
Bad Sneakers (bonus)
Date: Thurs, February 14, 2002, 10:26:53
of Walter and Donald on E-Bay. Maybe if steelydan.com had
a merchandise website that offered these, maybe all these
thieves would go away...
Date: Wed, February 13, 2002, 22:16:25
They have all won a special CD collection of vaguely seasonally inspired, tangentially Steely Dan Songs as a prize for tieing for first place in "The Dan Christmas Song Contest."
It is hoped that their prize will arrive in time for the next holiday season in 2002. This contest may have been auditted by Chicago-based Arthur Andersen.
h
Date: Wed, February 13, 2002, 21:28:06
------- ------ -- --- ----
(Sung to the tune of a recent Pink Floyd song.)
We don't need no indirection
We don't need no flow control
No data typing or declarations
Did you leave the lists alone?
Hey! Hacker! Leave those lists alone!
Chorus:
All in all, it's just a pure-LISP function call.
All in all, it's just a pure-LISP function call.
Date: Wed, February 13, 2002, 21:13:33
Metheny is arguably the jazz guitarist of our generation. Yet, in today's Steely Dan world, I'm glad Steely Dan has the eloquence of Walter's playing with those long, bendable notes. Context, context, context. Rag: what a deal! I wish I wuz in Bahstin again! (second time this month.)
Dave: I've said the same thing about those three, but you nailed it with the part about the "Steely Dan envy."
Sweet's book is certainly a primmer for those getting to know the Dan.
Nigey turned me on to her stuff last summer. Check it out on RFD2 If you love Dan and Zappa, Nigey's got it happenin'.
I'm not sure I would say Pink Floyd has no sense of humor; however, I know I didn't have much of a sense of humor when I was really into them as a teenager.
Looking forward to more charette entries.
Toodle-Ooops.
hoops
Date: Wed, February 13, 2002, 20:27:07
Date: Wed, February 13, 2002, 19:10:11
All Metheny fans in the Boston area. Newbury Comics have Pat's new CD "Speaking OF Now" for a great price of $9.99. They are also giving out autographed CD booklets while supplies last! I've listened to it a couple of times and it's his best stuff in a while.
Remember when the rumours were flying 10 years ago that Pat was going to be the guitarist on the '93 Steely Dan tour?!?
Mark in Boston
P.S. I don't work for Newbury Comics but an autographed CD by a 12 time Grammy winner for $10? Vhhaaat a bahhhgaaain!!!
Date: Wed, February 13, 2002, 17:24:56
My sweetie pie and I were listening the Eagles' The Long Run last night. I hadn't listened to it in years. In fact, it was an *LP* we played (and I don't mean Luckless Pedestrian either).
I was struck by a couple of things. One, late 1979/1980 saw the release of three albums by three great, late 70s groups. In the case of all three, they were the follow-ups to their most successful albums. Steely Dan came out with Gaucho, the follow-up to Aja, The Doobies came out with One Step Closer, the follow-up to Minute by Minute, and The Eagles came out with the Long Run as the follow-up to Hotel California. And in the case of all three, it was their swan-song, at least for a very long time. They were three albums that were hard to make because success had created strains within the bands. Yet, all three are revered as classics.
Another thing that struck me was how hard the Eagles were trying to be Steely Dan. The Long Run, The Disco Strangler, King Of Hollywood, Those Shoes, Teenage Jail, and The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks all have this cynical view of California that could be easily shared by Steely Dan. Yet, I think the Eagles, especially Dandy Don Henley missed a crucial element. The Eagles had no sense of humor. When you listen to these, save for maybe Greeks Don't Want No Freaks, there is little sense of humor. They are too damn serious, like Dandy Don.
I guess you could say that the Dandy Don and the Eagles suffer from "Steely Dan Envy" but aren't the real thing---Shaygits without Yidisher kops in the Temple.
Sweet's book is very good, if only for the fact it's the only one out there. Get it! But too bad he didn't get to interview the actual subjects.
I'd love to hear Show Biz Kids next tour.
Dave
Date: Wed, February 13, 2002, 13:09:06
pluses: no other steely dan books out there, mentions all the players, nice overview
minuses: when sweet doesn't have certain details, he speculates and presents them as fact, the book has no index. so the book has boughts of fiction.
Date: Wed, February 13, 2002, 12:54:45
Date: Wed, February 13, 2002, 12:26:05
Sincerely, Dr. Jerry
Date: Tues, February 12, 2002, 15:42:06
Date: Tues, February 12, 2002, 11:58:30
Yeah, I guess since they have a song about having incestual thoughts that they subscribe to it.
Actually, I feel Glamour Profession picks on the basketball industry. I think the urban nature of the sport lends itself to the notion of drugs infiltrating the ranks. I think one of the points of the song is that the drug dealer (the focus of the lyrics) isn't the one getting hurt. I believe that the backing vocals "Living hard will take its toll" is meant to be an unspoken thought in the mind of the dealer, saying that these people are ruining their lives with the things he's selling. But then he returns to what he considers "sanity", saying "Illegal fun under the sun."
I think this song is a complete middle finger to basketball _and_ Hollywood. I think this song was meant to bash Hollywood. "Who inspires your fabled fools? That's my claim to fame" throws the drug abuse right out in the open for all to see. I think they wanted to frown upon the fact these stars all use drugs to "enhance" their performances.
Or who knows, maybe D+W got mad at an obnoxiously vain drug dealer and decided to ridicule him in song. We will probably never know for sure.
Earl
Date: Tues, February 12, 2002, 10:23:47
The rock and roll hall of fame contest. My idea is a sarcasm booth. You step in and you key the answers to some basic questions. Then your body is scanned for personality characteristics as expressed in your physical prescense (i.e. posture, REM, hairstyle, breath, etc). Then a collection of 2500 of Donny and Walty's best interview remarks, sarcasms, and needlings based on past interviews. based on this data, the most suitable of these is selected for the person experiencing the exhibit.
WoW
###################################
Date: Tues, February 12, 2002, 01:15:40
Stuff that has never been played before:
Gaucho (why haven't they played this yet?)
Turn that Heartbeat (both B and F on vocals)
Gold Teeth I
Show Biz Kids
Parker's Band (with extended solos and band intros)
Throw Back the Little Ones
Rose Darling (Becker)
Hatian Divorce - another one I'm amazed hasn't been touched yet.
Here at the Western World
Time Out of Mind
The Nightfly
Pretzel Logic (they haven't officially done this on a full tour yet)
Two Against Nature
Second Arrangement
Stuff that has been played, that I still want to hear:
Sign in Stranger
My Old School (put headphones in my coffin and play it 24/7)
Black Cow
Countermoon
Wet Side Story
Black Friday
Bodhisattva
Stuff that needs a rest:
Deacon Blues (you can get 2 new songs for the time spent on this)
Josie
Peg
Do It Again
FM
Hey 19
Babylon sisters
Home at Last
Date: Mon, February 11, 2002, 22:43:51
To whom it may concern: I have said nothing to anyone anywhere in any discussion about Randy Newman. Whoever it was wasn't me. I.
Date: Mon, February 11, 2002, 19:00:30
Pink Floyd has little sense of humor. They are way too serious about themselves. Steely Dan has a great sense of humor.
Is this Hall of Fame contest thing for real?
Glamor Profession is about a basketball player. They must like basketball.
Karl
Date: Mon, February 11, 2002, 16:51:31
use this place beside SD ?
Date: Mon, February 11, 2002, 13:47:46:
Hey! Another fun contest idea! How could I resist? :-)
I have no idea what the displays in the RnRHOF generally look like, but in my mind the c
hoice for Steely Dan is obvious: an exact reproduction of the interior of one of the stu
dios they recorded in during the 70s. Since Don & Walt spent so damn much time in such a
space, that would best represent their natural habitat, right? Plus it would provide a
natural and obvious place to display at least one of those frickin' tape machines they'v
e been so generously trying to donate to the HOF. Of course, this studio-replica would h
ave to be equipped with the Maggie-whatever speakers and Bosendorfer piano and all the o
ther highfalutin' equipment they mention so fondly in liner notes and other memoirs (hel
l, maybe even the dreaded DBX machine that screwed up the "Katie Lied" tapes should be i
nthere). Plus, for full authenticity, the studio should be given that unique, "lived-in"
look which only these two Masters (and their cohorts) can inflict on such an environmen
t: the random Coke can-dented speaker screen, various loops of tape run on out the studi
o door and back, stray food wrappers from Fatburger and other dens of fine dining, some
discreetly-placed tools of relaxicant consumption ... hell, maybe even a disembodied han
d haunting the control panel, I dunno. If nothing else, such a display might silence on
ce and for all the recurring question of whose hand that was. Or just produce a general
silence of awed comprehension.
Cheers, and happy contest-judging!
--
Ellen Terris Brenner
" ... the axis of pain/pleasure sheared the arc of desire ... "
Date: Mon, February 11, 2002, 12:01:14
RZ
Date: Mon, February 11, 2002, 05:32:46
-Enough of Randy Newman now for a while, okay?
Having the nerve uh?
That pissed me off big time.
C
Date: Sun, February 10, 2002, 23:22:37
Greetings Dandom. It's been ages since I've posted anything, but with preparations for a Dan Fan Night Out here in Milwaukee in the works I thought I ought to get back in the swing of things here. I noticed a lot of familiar names and the banter is quite the same. It would be wonderful if a tour was planned but I think that with the New One in the works it just won't happen. Regardless, I just love seeing what everyone wants to hear and can't help but throw my couple of pennies in. So, just to be a little different, here is my complete set list for the next tour....
1. Kings (I like starting back at the begining)
2. Gaslighting Abbie
3. I Got the News
4. A New one (mabye Wetside Story with grown up lyrics)
5. Florida Room
6. Your Gold Teeth II & Intros (Great idea, El Sup)
7. What a Shame about me (I'm still talking to my atty about them
stealing my life story.)
8. Aja
9. Haitian Divorce
10. New one (an epic type piece like WOH)
Break
11. Band warm up - Something by T. Monk
12. The Caves of Altamira
13. Medical Science (This is an absolute awesome song)
14. Deacon Blue (Ya just can't get sick of this one)
15. King of the World
16. New song
17. Jack of Speed or Cousin Dupree
18. Doctor Wu (They've got too, eventually)
19. Show Biz Kids
20. Peg
21. Don't Take me Alive
Encore
22. Parker's Band (This has major Jam possibilities)
23. West Of Hollywood
Well, there you have it. Just a reminder, it is a wish list......
Haven't really taken in all of the Floyd stuff, they are certainly worthy of discussion. They (meaning Roger) don't have the same sense of humor but there is a touch of personal irony that is similar. There is also the technical perfectionism that they seem to share.
Just a quick plug, March 2nd, at a yet to be determined location, the 1st Milwaukee Dan Fan Night Out will be held. Response has been minimal so far but I know it'll pick up. (Hint Hint) Anyone one interested can email me or sign up for the Milwaukee Danfest list by clicking here or sending an email message with the only words "subscribe milwaukee" in the body, no quotes.
Peace, love and Dan,
Razor Boy
Date: Sun, February 10, 2002, 22:25:28
If you're not groovin' on the Olympics, or if you can't wait for The Next One and/or The Next Tour, then here's a fun little distraction to reel in the years and stow away the time...
Fever Dreams + dandom.com Present…
...a Dandom-wide opportunity to design the Steely Dan Exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A charette is…is…why it's difficult to describe, and architects, artistes and designers have an even harder time spelling it. But don't let that intimidate you. In everyday terms, it's a brainstorm of an idea drafted or jotted down for a casual presentation. Supposedly, the term comes from Parisian architecture students in the late 1800's who used a cart, or charette, to rush their drawings to l'École des Beaux Arts. Charettes are often very time-limited and intense. As far as we know, the Steely Dan exhibit in the R&RHOF has not yet been erected, so a charette is the perfect opportunity to come up with our own quintessentially Danesque design ideas.
Think about it. Given the Duo’s apparent sense of ennui about their election to the HOF, is it likely they’ll spend much time designing their exhibit? And do we want them to, anyway? NO!! WE WANT THEM TO STAY IN THE STUDIO AND FINISH UP THE NEXT ONE ALREADY!!
So with a profound sense of civic duty and sincere helpfulness to Our Heroes and the Greater Community of Steely Dan Fans, let us put our collective idiosyncratic talents to bear. Let's design an exhibit to show the world, or at least the slackjawed tourists shuffling through the R&RHOF, what Steely Dan really means to us!
FULL DETAILS, EXAMPLES, and Much, MUCH MORE are at:
Join the charette--BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!
O + h
Date: Sun, February 10, 2002, 17:36:43
They played Ruby Baby a couple of times in 1996 and it was great. Don't know why they abandoned it.
El Sup
Date: Sun, February 10, 2002, 15:07:30
1. Dr. Wu (are you with us D+W?)
2. Caves
3. Black Cow
4. I Got the News
5. Time Out of Mind
6. IGY
7. Surf and/or Die
8. Almost Gothic
Revival Picks: Turn That Heartbeat Over Again and King of the World.
I'd take every/any cut from 2VN, but let me go on the record as saying if I don't get to hear WOH live SOMEWHERE, I may die of disappointment. Bill in Boston, we need to marshall our forces for the next tour. Find us a mole!
LWO
Date: Sun, February 10, 2002, 11:19:01
Here's my list of gotta-hears:
1. New Frontier
2. Caves of Altimira
3. Ruby Baby
4. True Companion
4. Chain Lightning
5. Green Earrings
6. Your Gold Teeth II (Mike, I assume it's II and not I you wanted)
7. Almost Gothic
8. Aja
9. Everything You Did
10. Pretzel Logic
There's more, but I tried to keep my list full of stuff they did not do when they played here (Cincy) last time.
Elaine: Hey, thanks for filling us in on Talking Heads playing...I will tune in , assuming that VH-1 will carry the induction ceremony like they did last year...(I hope they do "Life During Wartime" -- wouldn't that be cool!)
Cheers and a happy Mardi Gras to all,
~Peg
Date: Sat, February 09, 2002, 20:17:34
Gaucho is about a homosexual. Are there any Dan songs with lesbians? Could be hot.
Floyd is great and they seek perfection like Steely Dan. However, the Floyd doesn't come close in terms of sense of humour.
Is there really going to be a tour this year? I need to start plotting my vacation around my wife's.
Date: Sat, February 09, 2002, 18:44:16
The Pink Floyd conversation is cool...great thread...you take what you want leave the rest Clas. Not everything is my kinda thread either.
Catch you all little laters on.
h
Date: Sat, February 09, 2002, 13:35:46
Date: Sat, February 09, 2002, 05:45:42
Well ... Serendipity just made me re-define P.U.K.E. Book:
Perpetual Universal Kindled Energy Book.
And while the S-muse is at it:
B.L.U.E. Book: Benignant Leisured Utilitarian Energy Book
And yes, both Hoops and St. Al et les autres are hosts in the true essence of its meaning willing to spend time and even more for all of us to just hop in and out leaving footprints and dust and dirt and whatelsenot ... we don't say it often enough, much appreciated, thank you!
Have a nice weekend everyone!
G.
Date: Sat, February 09, 2002, 05:00:41
Date: Sat, February 09, 2002, 00:57:42
I would like to hear What A Shame About Me and Negative Girl on next tour!
I was happy to see that Talking Heads are putting aside their differences to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductions next month!
Nice to see you W1P. Where have you been? Or, where have I been!? Break a leg tomorrow at Paladino's! I can't make it, my nephew is a man- Bar Mitzvah! Roger Waters is no Fagen, with all due respect to my Dan-biased heart :-)
Happy weekend all.
Elaine
Date: Fri, February 08, 2002, 21:35:54
Date: Fri, February 08, 2002, 19:18:41
1) Snowbound
2) Your Gold Teeth (This one would be good for the band intros)
3) The Nightfly
4) Dr. Wu
5) Almost Gothic (Tom Barney said they will probably never attempt this again. Unfortunate.)
6) I Got the News
7) Time Out of Mind
8) Razor Boy
9) Rapunzel (great start to the second half of the show)
10) Medical Science
What I could do without:
1) F.M.
2) Josie
3) Do It Again
4) Green Flower Street
5) My Old School
El Sup
Date: Fri, February 08, 2002, 11:47:55
The funny part happens when the former Enron exec is having sex in the cab, the train goes into reverse and the controls get stuck where the sun don't shine. Funny. Maybe.
A liitle song
A little dance
A little seltzer my pants.
Yes,
It's the
Old Song & DANCE
Date: Thurs, February 07, 2002, 23:23:16
DF: Doan gimme none uh dat dew gewdeee gewdeeee bullllllllllshiiiitt.
Is there really going to be a tour? Would Mariah Carey even rate as a midriff? HA!
Date: Thurs, February 07, 2002, 21:08:44
Date: Thurs, February 07, 2002, 20:39:20
are.
1. Dr Wu
2. True Companion
3.King of the world
4.Pretzel Logic
5.The caves of altamira
6.Surf and or Die
7.Teahouse on the tracks
then they can play what they want......*laugh*
Date: Thurs, February 07, 2002, 20:35:13
Date: Thurs, February 07, 2002, 18:07:48
John
Date: Thurs, February 07, 2002, 11:54:03
Hoops: Well put! Never understood that myself. Interesting study in human nature I suppose.
Date: Thurs, February 07, 2002, 11:05:04
"Where did the bastard Run?" "No Foolin' it's a fucked up world."
WoW
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Date: Thurs, February 07, 2002, 05:40:56
Date: Wed, February 06, 2002, 22:18:19
Zinggggg, Sheperd, Beezzzly, Bumpus, the other bands, how do they widdle their time away and put food on the table when there's no Dan tour?
Date: Wed, February 06, 2002, 22:12:42
I want to hear 'Dr. Wu," "Almost Gothic" and "What A Shame About Me"
Album played front/back shoule be Aja. Second Choice is Gaucho.
Revival? Chain Lightning and Pretzel Logic.
The Blue Pages are appreciated, Hoops.
Keith
Date: Wed, February 06, 2002, 22:02:04
My hope is that the Next One is going to have at least
(Just kidding Don).
:)
Date: Wed, February 06, 2002, 21:58:45
Rikki sucked in '96. It fell over like some drunk when I heard it. Maybe it was better elsewhere. Or maybe it was I who was drunk and fell over. I dunno. Yeah, yeah, Donald hates it because it was too popular or something like that, seems like that. But he should try it again.
Here's an idea. The second set should be one Steely Dan album played front to back, in order, followed by two encores. My album choice? Aja, with extended improvs.
All of you guys who make the Steely Dan internet scene happen for us fans have my tip of the hat. Dan fans are first rate, except for a couple of dildoes and dickheads who can't get any sex from their wives or house pets. Of course there is something to be said for the occasional vicious post and unprovoked SPAM, it adds a healthy bit of piss and vinegar. It gets boring without it, right, St Al????
W1P-----what do you do when your wife isn't available? "Sugar, since my wife's apparatus is down, I figured I'd ask you for a quickie" I prefer to post here, why do you insult me, when did fans who hang here become second best? Excuuuusseeee MEEEEEE! Maybe your cover bands would have more people show up if you wouldn't diss other Dan fans in other forums and treat them like a second choice for a date. I hope your music is better than your social skills.
The Brits are strange people but they have the most kick-ass music mags. Mojo, Q, and Uncut. They are the greatest. They appreciate American music better than we Americans. American music mags blow hugely. That '95 interview with Becker and Fagen is TASTY.
Roger Nichols is supposed to be a huge football fan. Not that it has impacted Dan records in any way I can detect. Or has it? High time New England won.
Van Morrison? When I saw him in S.F. it was like he might walk off the stage even if one audience member had their underwear on wrong. He hurries the show along like he's waiting to catch a bus. His back to the audience isn't exactly friendly either. Very uneven for a high $$$$$ performer. And Rickie Lee Jones wants to be Van Morrison if you think about it. I like her stuff yet, you know, but she sings like a stroke victim.
Well, I guess that's it for now.
Toodle-OOOoooooo
Date: Wed, February 06, 2002, 20:33:49
"Once upon a time, they were the oddest couple in rock. They wrote songs that featured knuckle-knotting chords and brain twisting lyrics. They welded jazz and rock into an alloy so smooth and shiny it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began. They gave up on live performances, decades before it became commonplace. They seered at the world from a position of bohemian superiority so rareified it was hard to tell exactly where it was situated. They routinely ran rings around interviewers.
They haven't changed."
The interview closes with Becker and Fagen saying the 93 and 94 tours were mistakes and that they would refund all ticket prices, provided a $100 filing fee is sent along!
Can't wait to finish. Thanks to my friend for seeing it and sending it to me.
I would like to hear "Aja" on the next tour again. "Pretzel Logic" would be a nice reprise. How about opening again with "Green Earrings?" It's a toe-tapper.
R J
Date: Wed, February 06, 2002, 18:57:42
2/9, this Sat, is Which One's Pink? with Roundabout (a Yes tribute) and Led Zepagain at Paladino's in Tarzana (site of last August's mini-Danfest). e-mail me if you want additional details.
Hoops, my brother lived in Urbana from about 1970 until about 1983. During that time he worked for the Urbana Park Dist, among other things. His ex-wife was a co-founder of The Record Service. He also played on a softball team called "The High and The Mighty" and hung out at some bar that gave away free fish sandwiches on Friday's. He took me to see The Amazing Rhythm Aces at Assembly Hall circa 1977.
Date: Wed, February 06, 2002, 16:58:53
In 2K, "Boston Rag" was a sublime opener. While the promise of new Dan tunage suggests the possibility of an all new opener, I'd have this thing that "Gaslighting Abbie" would be a great opener.
"Dr Wu," "Western World" and "Haitian Divorice" are amongst the most requested catalog that have not been parts the regular tour lists of the past decade.
Then there's a few tunes I wish would be resurrected from the 90s tours: "IGY," "Green Earrings" and "Chain Lightning." It'd be great to hear'em again.
And in Walter's spotlight, Walter performing lead vocals on "Josie" would be cool. "Josie" is a song that is one of the essential Dan tracks (how could it not be on "Decade?") and this would add a nifty twist. Time for this to be an off-year for the drum solo though, imho.
h
hoops
Date: Wed, February 06, 2002, 16:36:25
Is the puke-man in here choking on the exhaust pipe of life?
Date: Wed, February 06, 2002, 16:00:19
You know, people like myself, Pat, John, others, maintain their sites as a labor of love. And like me, they really appreciate the privilege of playing host to venues like the SIS Guestbook or the BlueBook or… It's like hosting a party: we're really lucky and glad to have guests. But you know—and I am speaking to a very small minority three or four who post under an array of pseudonyms—we pay the rent and clean the dishes and keep the party going. For instance, Dandom.com takes extra hours behind the scene and costs rent. You tiny minority have a lot of gall to come into my living room (or Pat's or whomever) and puke on our walls. Stinging one-liners, witticisms and the like are welcome—it's all in fun in a certain, Dan-like, twisted way. I'm not kvetching about that. But how about something more Dan-worthy than "puking" (and the like) under an array of lame pseudonyms?
h
Date: Wed, February 06, 2002, 11:51:48
My hosting company (Liquid Web) completely screwed the pooch and lost over 3 months of posts. Though I can recover up to about a week ago, anything posted since is gone.
As a side note, let me just tell you that Liquid Web is the worst web hosting company I've ever encountered. Since moving the site routinely went down. I've had numerous conversations both in e-mail and in person and they basically just say DUH.
Also, to those of you still bashing the "puke" book. Keep in mind things changed radically back in November when I changed the script and took a more proactive stance on negative spamming. In fact, from November 19th through about 2 days ago (last time I checked) there were over 2000 posts and I can't recollect a SINGLE post that was vicious and unprovoked SPAM as was so common on the old Seanet guestbook.
Anyway, please bare with me whilst I figure out what to do. TO complicate matters we're in the middle of a complete site redesign. Hopefully I'll have something in place tonight.
Hoops -- you and I need to talk about hosting services...
StAl
Date: Wed, February 06, 2002, 02:39:24
Hoops - and still you didn't experience the crowd in Stockholm.
Date: Wed, February 06, 2002, 01:44:45
Go back to the puke book. It's nice here WITHOUT you.
Date: Tues, February 05, 2002, 21:00:39
i like this one better, but still
Date: Tues, February 05, 2002, 16:18:40
I'd argue that Boston and Hartford had the best crowds at the 2000 Dan Shows; no wonder they are just as great as footballs fans. See iMovie links.
So I finally move to Chicago, work less than a mile from Soldier Field. Where
do the Bears go play next year? Downstate Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Go figure.
Congrats to the Pats!
h
Date: Tues, February 05, 2002, 16:05:49
We had 1.25 million on City Hall Plaza today for the Pats Party. A few more people than the Danfest of a couple of years ago. Time has really flown!!! The Storytellers Sony Studios taping was two years ago this past Friday! It seems like two months ago.
Clas - Sorry for the football talk but it's been 16 years ('86 Celtics) since there's been a Championship team in this town!
Besides it did have a Dan tie-in.
Mark in Boston
Date: Tues, February 05, 2002, 15:47:55
Congrats to the Boston and New England Dan Fans on the Patriots. Whatta game! The first time I got to see Foxboro was on my way to the Mansfield Dan show in 2000. But most of all, I remember the great sports /Dan fans at the Friday-before the show Danfest across from Fenway. Although I also love St. Louis (Go Maggi!), I can't help but still think of them as the L.A. Rams. So if you need any proof of why the Pats did so well and/or it was Danfest of the year (along with Dallas), check out these URLs (which won't be around much longer).
h
Date: Tues, February 05, 2002, 13:51:24
Adirondack chairs peering over Maui's pristinely beautiful north shore, leering ominously out over the Bonzai Pipeline?
Yet another example of how adept transplanted New Yorkers are at mucking their way through paradise!
Can't wait for more!
Date: Tues, February 05, 2002, 07:28:07
Date: Mon, February 04, 2002, 23:28:00
I've been listening to "Hymns to the Silence" a lot this month, also "Enlightenment." The former is my favorite of his later albums (the incomparable "Moondance" being my favorite of his earlier work).
C
Date: Mon, February 04, 2002, 14:00:51
If they cut out half of this stuff, I would actually care enough to watch the pregame show. Oh, and after the game, the 45 minute Sucking Up to Pat Summerall farewell. He was a good play-by-play man, but after 20 years of biased coverage I really don't care. Maybe they'll get someone who thinks that there's a team in this country other than Dallas.
So, to finish, if all of this stuff would be cut back to about 1/2 an hour, I wouldn't have missed that Brady/Bledsoe bit with the great music. Funny how they bury the good music, and put "The Sellout Band of the Year" during the 1/2time show. It's funny, why not just play a few tracks from their album...it's not like they're performing the music anyway?
Keep up the good work fellas...patiently awaiting whatever you are going to put out for us.
Earl
Date: Mon, February 04, 2002, 09:35:18
I was looking for a sign yesterday, anything, that the Pats would slay the Goliath Rams. Then, as LWO says, the Brady/Bledsoe interview comes on with 'Bodhisattva', 'Babylon Sisters' and 'Do It Again' as background music. That was my sign.
East St. Louis Rams toodle-oo.
The Greatest Show on Turf ran into a defensive buzz saw!!
Congrats Pats!!!!
Mark in Boston
Date: Sun, February 03, 2002, 23:14:59
Congrats to all our friends in New England....what a great game and a well-deserved victory! The bad news is that football is over for another season. The best news would be an off-season of SD.....odds on that anyone?
LWO
Date: Sun, February 03, 2002, 17:19:33
Speaking of Walk It LIke You Talk It, is that flick available on VHS? How about FM? DVD would be a scary thought. I seem to remember FM as being a crappy movie that was like a mediocre episode of WKRP extended to 90 minutes. Beach Blanket Bingo meets AOR. Only redeeming quality was the title track and the reprise.
Has Becker | Fagen ever endorsed a product, besides musical instruments? Like maybe Aunt Martha's Ginseng Laxative? Just a passing thought.
Date: Sun, February 03, 2002, 16:28:21
Can't wait. I bet they have a new album and a tour by summer. Or maybe they will tour this summer and then release the album, like they did with Whack. Get people to the shows this summer because they were the big Grammy winners. Then play the new stuff so they are in line at the stores in the fall. Yeah! That's the ticket!
R J
Date: Sun, February 03, 2002, 00:10:19
Officially speaking Through with Buzz in the shortest (1:34) while West of Hollywood is the longest (8:21).
Unofficially speaking You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It (Reprise) is the shortest (0:42) while the combination of Trans-Island Skyway, Countermoon and Teahouse on the Tracks played maybe 3 or 4 times early in the 1993 tour would be the longest (20:00+).
Always here to help ;-)
El Sup
Date: Sat, February 02, 2002, 23:06:31
Can anyone tell me the longest and shortest Dan tracks?
John
Date: Fri, February 01, 2002, 21:10:43
What a tough day. Looking forward to weekend of quality Dan-influenced listening.
Have been listening a lot to Rickie Lee Jones' "Pirates" and "Naked Songs." DF is featured on the title track and a lot of "Nightfly" players make appearances. "Living It Up" is pretty up beat but I like a live version better. "A Lucky Guy" is so mellow. Title track is swell as well. 'Naked Songs" features a version of "Horses," co-written by Becker. Something about "Pirates" somehow evokes mellow times in NYC, like "Bad Sneakers", although "Pirates" is a west coast album. Wonder if we will ever have such mellow, stompin' on the avenue times in NYC again.
Also, listening to a lot of "Two Against Nature" and "The Royal Scam." I'm still struck by the playing and especially how perfect it all sounds. Donald's piano has this Latin, exotic feel to it on "Scam." Just when I started to doubt that 2vN was as great as I remembered it, I put it on and am now enveloped in how it sounds better than ever.
Finally , Van Morrison's "A Period of Transition," which is among Van's lesser selling albums but has some great stuff on it --"Heavy Connection" and "Cold Wind in August." Dr. John produced it. In his autobiography, Dr. John says he never realized how difficult" Van could be. (I think he called Van an "asshole." Not very flattering comments like that. But then Van invited him to play in the past two or three years and they did. Maybe it was the comments in the bio and Van realized Dr. J was right so he wanted to make nice. Anyhow, maybe 7-8 years ago, I used to run a Van Morrison Digest and discovered how much Van despised the Internet and how nutty his fans could be. End of Digest, end of story.
Van is incredible...ranks close to with The Duo in my book. Seen him three times. Once he was incredible, once OK but there was that moment he did "Make Love In The Afternoon" and made a great moment for my girlfriend at the time and me, and last time, he looked at his watch every few minutes and then left after 1:15. I was pretty disappointed. Still Van tours little in the USA so I was lucky to see him. Jones Beach is supposedly one of his favorite venues. Maggi McCoy used to say that she read an interview where Donald Fagen said he wanted to sing like Van. Have never seen it myself tho. Would love to see the interview.
I could pass on the U2 at the Superbowl. Kinda like eatting corned beef, cabbage and Wheaties together.
Have a great weekend everybody.
h
Date: Fri, February 01, 2002, 16:44:50
Walter and Donald on the Grammys? NARAS is probably asking what their ratings draw would be.
Kan You Imagine if Kamakiriad got the Grammy? It would have been before Walter's album. The stupid American public would had another erroneous reason to believe that Steely Dan is just Fagen. Plus Kamakiriad is the least of Becker -Fagen connected albums.
Date: Fri, February 01, 2002, 16:17:46
Date: Fri, February 01, 2002, 15:20:18
Date: Fri, February 01, 2002, 12:32:03
Did you see that Apple is getting a special technical innovator's Grammy this year. Them and Robert Moog (sythesizer).
The shi-bang is in a press release from yesterday at http://www.Grammy.com/news/academy/020131tech.html
Apple Computer is considered the leading architect in bringing computer technology into the studio and revolutionizing the way music is written, produced, mixed, recorded and creatively imagined. The introduction of the Macintosh in the mid-1980s helped launch a number of important software breakthroughs, linking technology to the creative process, and literally changing the face of the recording studio.
Almost immediately, developers began creating revolutionary tools for playing, recording and editing music, all solidly grounded in the Mac's user-friendly interface. This made the Macintosh virtually synonymous with the computer-driven production techniques of the last decade. Over time, with a Mac and the right tools, a single person could compose, perform, record, edit and mix the instrumental portion of a song or entire album. Thus, the Macintosh became the touchstone of a new model for producing recorded music.
The creation of the Macintosh sparked a flurry of creativity that continues today. With the Mac's powerful new processors and new, Apple-driven applications - such as DVD Studio Pro - Apple continues to build on its historic role in moving studio technology forward.
The first Technical GRAMMY was awarded in 1994. Past winners include Les Paul, Digidesign's Pro Tools, Dr. Thomas Stockham Jr., Ray Dolby, Rupert Neve, George Massenburg, Sony/Philips, Georg Neumann GmbH, Bill Putnam, and AMS Neve, plc.
WoW
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Posted by: hoops, chris, tony, Info about this Saturday's Dan Fan's Night Out is at
http://www.dandom.com/danfests/milwaukee
http://www.dandom.com/danfests
Posted by: hoops, Great to see Joe Murtha! Too bad it's not a ticket for Metheny in Chicago! I need one! Looking forward to the next SD Reader!
Posted by: jk, jkpat played two shows with donald and the gang- fantastic. saw pmg last night. they played for 3 1/2 hours. wow! great new drummer.
Posted by: John , Erie, Penna.I watched the Grammies and realized that I don't care. What a difference a year makes. Don and Walt, thanks for making last year's Grammies memorable for a change.
Posted by: Joe Murtha, Hello Hoops et al,
Posted by: Mike, Louisville, KYWell it looks like some new Gaucho Outtakes have been discovered: I Got the
Bear, Kind Spirit, Were You Blind That Day?, and a nice full band version of
Kulee Baba.
Posted by: Michelle, NJHi!
Posted by: hoops, When I heard Supertramp as a teenager, I had this mental picture of Roger Hodgson's voice eminating from a plastic lawn gnome.
Posted by: W1P, Los Angeles, north of San DiegoThis upcoming Danfest in San Diego should be great. I hope only that I can make it down there! Unfortunately, W1P's guitarist is at his daughter's wedding that weekend which is why we cant play. Of course, you just knew we'd get booked for 4/20. Oh well, there's always San Diego
Posted by: Steely Damned-related thoughts:, tromsöListen Oleander, I love Steely Damned too, but enough already about San Diego...though it's interesting that he shares a hat fetish ("You can leave your hat on") with Dylan ("Leopardskin pillbox hat") and the Dan ("The fez").
Posted by: oleander, true confessionsOK, I actually read "Naked Lunch." And "Ticket That Exploded" and "Nova Express" and parts of "Wild Boys." I can't stand Burroughs.
WWF
Rush Limbaugh
putting "kick me" signs on other people
Donner party reenactments
Posted by: Scott, in the U.K.Hoops. I bet the guy reading the Calc book upside down was practising to cheat on his quiz.
Posted by: W1P, LAThe key Aja I know is Aja Danielle Johnson born March 12, 2000 and soon to be two!
Posted by: hoops, Hey kids;
"The Tribute Band with the Best of Intentions on the Road To Hell"
President and founder, Fans Of Great (sic) Music:
Posted by: Peg, All dried out nowPaul, dearest,
Posted by: Boston Rag, New Artist - Aja DaashuurI was reading the new CD release list today and noticed the debut
Posted by: W1P, LA, AlbertaRich -- great news on your Dan trib project and great name! The only thing better would have been "Free Beer" which always looks great on the marquee. Good luck to you and thanks for remembering me in a nice way!
Posted by: PGE, Somewhere in Scandinavia...Cosmic, in addition to your posting about that Charlie Pride CD let me tell you that the first CD-single from one Michael Jackson's "comeback" album was copyprotected in a way that not only stopped it from being played on computers but in quite a few of the regular CD-players at the radio station were I work.
Posted by: Rich, Edmonton, ALberta, CanadaHi there, fellow Dan Fans!
Posted by: Clas, Stockton, TXStAl - yeah, really, the magic is gone.
Posted by: , St Al! You're joking, right? I liked it when people slammed the idiots on your guestbook.(you call it "inappropriate"- ha!) Now it's so fucking boring! I bet you they're dozens of ex posters who don't post any more because of your little notes on the bottom of the page telling the whole freaking world what type of computer they're using. You thought you were being slick by taking anonymity away from people. (Something you said you would never do) What you did was turn the place into a lame joke. It's not fun any more. If I have to read one more concert review from Aussie or hear how many first class plane tickets he gets or how many trips he takes or how rich he is, I'm going to vomit!
Posted by: StAlphonzo, Under The Banyan Trees -- New & Improved!Hey gang!
http://www.banyantrees.net/
Posted by: Clare, Swanlund, OhioAny idea if Steely Dan will tour this year? I am with those who want to hear Dr. Wu and Book Keeper's Son.
Posted by: Cosmic Wow, Heard on the news that a lady sued a record company because they made a Charlie Pride CD copy-protected so that it couldn't even be listened to on computer and then didn't adequately note it as such. What the fuck is wrong with these people? Why copy-protect a Charlie Pride CD? And why sue over over such piece of crap? Now if it were a Steely Dan album, maybe I could see.
Posted by: Chris Eisold, Milwaukee, of courseThe plan was set, the plan was done
Posted by: W1P, RJ -- W1P appears to be a regional "thang" -- hard to come up with the funds to travel. Steeve, sorry I missed your boys -- I was there (I think)
Posted by: AP Entertainment Almanac, AP Entertainment Almanac
Posted by: Jim McCloskey, Santa Cruz, Calif.Hi!
Posted by: Smson, Please mark your calendars for Friday Night, March 22,2002! Join us at the Studio Cafe ,on the boardwalk,in Newport Beach(Balboa)Cal. at 8:00pm-12:00am
Posted by: Steveedan, Los AngelesI wanted to add another message, separate from the previous one.
Posted by: Steveedan, Los AngelesHello everybody --
Posted by: Paul, TorontoDear Peg;
Posted by: Peg, At the ol' ranchAs a degreed and therefore underpaid journalism professional (AKA, a certified picky anny), I am trained to spot inconsistencies. Therefore, I need to clear up a misstatement made by Rival in the grande charette idea that was put forth a few days ago.
Posted by: hubba bubba, america http://www.drparsons.fsnet.co.uk/georg.html
Posted by: Mike, Louisville, KYThis may have been covered before, but I just saw it. And it is worth bringing up again this time of the year anyway.
Posted by: R J, Newspaper. Bill Maher. Right Guard. Pedophille Priests. Subway. Everyone's Gone To The Movies. Makes sense to me, Hoops.
Posted by: W1P, Lost AngelesHey SF Blue Bookers, The Machine, the excellent east coast Pink Floyd tribute band, is coming this weekend! Do yourself a favor and catch their shows this coming Saturday, Monday and Tuesday! Dates and locations below:
Posted by: DrMu, glad I live in TejasHoops: Man, that sounds right out of a Seinfeld episode...saw a syndicated (geez, what else would it be) run of the episode where Kramer buys the Merv Griffin studio set and Jerry finds a number of ways to knock out his new girlfirend to play with here vintage toy collection...see how EWGTTM lead right into Your Gold Teeth II...life is unreal...
Posted by: Mike, LouisvilleFor those of you in the know, see if this means anything:
Oh, you look so unconcerned
While you watched that E-town burn
Were you blind that day?"
Posted by: hoops, on the subwaySo I'm reading the newspaper while riding the subway this morning. I see that Bill Maher is celebrating the fifth anniversary of PI tonight. And then I start reading yet another story about the terrible pedophille priests.
Posted by: jata staff, Hello,
Posted by: oleander, the moan attractionRival--That SLAYS. Duly entered. I may not be able to sleep tonight.
Posted by: gypsyqueeninafairytale, uh....actually, I e-mailed Jay the other day,he didn't respond.
Posted by: hoops, passing thruRival: Yow!
Posted by: Michelle, Princeton Jct., New JerseyHi!
Posted by: DrMu, Yellow PerilPhillipe: Superb report.
Posted by: W1P, Los AngelesEdited report on 2/17 Steely Damned show in Misson Beach, CA. I thought TSD was really on their game -- Hank Easton continues to amaze. I particularly liked New Frontier, Second Arrangement, Kings, Boston Rag, Gaucho, King of the World and (my request) Caves. Very strange side note -- not one song from Katy Lied was played -- it was a Countdown to Prezel Aja Thrill Gaucho night. Tonight the East Coast Floyd tribute The Machine is playing at the Sunset Strip House of Blues (although, the HOB advertising makes no mention of this show). We've heard nothing but good things about The Machine (and in fact I have a CD of theirs recorded live at "The Wetlands" in New York and its very good) and we will be checking out "the competition" -- even though the show starts at midnight on a "school night".
Posted by: Your Rival, Draft of my humble charette entryI'm still developing my concept, but my proposal for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Steely Dan exhibit is called,
A Sensuous Steely Dan Historical Exhibit in Three Parts.
The DO IT AGAIN ROOM
This dandy experience is called ROOM OF NOOSES.
WESTERN WORLD BORDELLO, "A Room for THAT KIND of Action"
Posted by: Dave, Wow, is there a horoscope that tells next year's set list?
Posted by: Steveedan, Los Angeles, CAHappy Birthday Walter - and many, many more.
Posted by: Cosmic WoW, I thought maybe Becker's BIRTHDAY HOROSCOPE could hint at whether there will be a Steely Dan tour.
Posted by: Moonflower, Mattoon, Illinois, EIUWalter Becker;
Posted by: The Loyal Dandom, Happy 52nd, Mr Becker,
and many, many more.
Posted by: Roller Skater Peg, (sick and tired of ice rinks)Hoops, I couldn't agree more about Stewart and the Grammys. Why the heck is he there? Who cares?!! How about Billy Crystal or Steve Martin or all those other people who are better? As for U2, I say, yeah, maybe they have gotten too much pub but it sure beats Eminem getting any.
Posted by: Mr Crabby, Tuff if you don't like itElton John? Oy Vey!
Posted by: hoops, as if it mattersOne year later, this sums up the The Grammy Controversy: Over the weekend, the 2002 calendars were all on sale for $1 at Borders. The majority were Eminem calendars.
Posted by: Mr. Sardonicist, Delivered-To:
To: Mr Sardonicist
Cc: "Cohen, Craig" <cohen2@WILL.uiuc.edu>
Subject: RE: REMINDER: WILL AM Birthday feature omission
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2002 13:34:44 -0600
Jack Brighton
Producer, Focus 580
WILL-AM/NPR
217-333-0850
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2002 12:32 PM
To: Brighton, Jack
Cc: cohen2@WILL.uiuc.edu
Subject: REMINDER: WILL AM Birthday feature omission Importance: High
>note from last year, and actually I'm not the person you'd want to notify
>about this since the Morning Edition host (Craig Cohen) puts that together
>on his own. I sorta don't know what else to say about it, other than that
>I'm cc'ing Craig with this reply. Craig, you should be forced to listen to
>the Carpenters!
>
>Thanks,
>Jack "Skunk" Brighton
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2001 9:32 AM
> To: jackb@uiuc.edu
> Subject: WILL AM Birthday feature omission
>
> You missed a big birthday today on the "Today in History"
>segment, just
> before 8 AM on WILL AM. Given three Grammy nominations
>tomorrow night,
> including "Album of the Year," not to mention past Grammys
>and his entry
> this year into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I think you
>would have noted
> that Water Becker, the mastermind, sardonic wit and
>songwriter of Steely
> Dan turns 51 today, Feb 20, 2001.
>
> Of course you didn't remember after I wrote last year,
>either.
Posted by: Michelle, NJHAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. WALTER!
Posted by: gypsyqueeninafairytale, HAPPY BIRTHDAY,WALTER!!!!!
Posted by: sdfds, dsfdsfHappy Birthday to Walter Ditto to the n'th!
Posted by: sadsadds, ghfgfghfActually, Howard K Smith did "I Got The News"
Posted by:
jata staff, Dear W
alter:
Posted by: Comic Wow, Yeah, Happy Birthday to Walter Becker, 52 tomorrow.
Posted by: Sister Smurf, under a toadstoolHappy Smurfday to Walter- mmmmmmmmmmmmwwwwwwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Posted by: Bill, NYHAPPY BIRTHDAY WALT!
Posted by: PS, Sun MountainAaah Hoops, Mark Murphy sings SD's "Do it Again", i believe on a CD called Song for the Geese ... happens so he is in the Netherlands this week and i will go and see him on Friday in Amsterdam ...
Posted by: Gina, Sun MountainWednesday, February 20, 2001
Posted by: Chips, Avast Ye Mates!
Posted by: oleander, yellow-belliedWow--All I can tell you is that there may be two first prizes.
Posted by: lp, @homeall hail to the french for posting that fabulous interview!!!
Posted by: hoops, "Comic" Wow. Pretty funny…er…ummm…I have no comment at this time. Are you going to enter your ditty from last week? Pleese :-)
Posted by: Comic WoW, This just in from United Press International:
Posted by: Clas, Stockton, TXKeith - enough of the Yellow Pages now already?
Posted by: John, Erie, Penna.During the "Can't Buy A Thrill" Sessions. Was there an alternate version of "Do It Again" where Donald did not perform lead vocals. I was wondering of Jim Hodder or someone else also had a go at them.
Posted by: Bill, NYSnowbound,
Posted by: Peg (Yes it really is my name), Eyes lockedGotta lend my thanks for the Jay Graydon interview (except for the fact that since I read it, "Midnight at the Oasis" has not quit playing in my mind). It is nice to see that Mr. Sweet is still taking it upon himself to be a fine reporter of all things Dan. Are we ever gonna see Metal Leg again, by the way?
Posted by: hoops@dandom.com, email-less at the library :-(Snowbound, P. and others: You're whetting my appetite for The Next One.
Posted by: snowbound, glasgow
Posted by: Keith Thomas, Owings Mills, MDP.P. in France.; Grayte Graydon and I am Graytful!
Posted by: W1P, 405 to 5 to Mission BeachJust talked to Mike Keneally about the possibility of a Which One's Pink? -- MK show and he didn't rule it out! Maybe he's just being polite! Hoops message received
Posted by: Pissed?, ?I'm not pissed Oleander. I WAS pissed. At the time.
Posted by: oleander, Graydon-APhilippe--Merci mille fois! Fantastic interview! Thanks for unleashing it on Dandom.
Posted by: hoops, cyber cafeOut of town and just checking in. (Sorry no access to my email).
Posted by: W1P, wch1ispink@aol.comWhat about Roger Springsteen? Banned in Boston, banned on the Blue? I'm so enthusiastic about Pink Floyd that I named my daughter Aja. I guess Vera Lynn is the only choice I can make the next time around? Mike Kenneally tonight (Bob Tedde may show up for a guest vocal) in Santa Monica. Steely Damned tomorrow in San Diego. Hell the New York Floyd tribute "The Machine" is playing House of Blues Sunset next Thursday. By that time, I should be all tributed out!
Posted by: Bink, Not Boston, Not even close"I was listening to Whitney Houston..."
Posted by: Sean, Quincy, MAI don't think I posted since last year. I have to pipe up and congratulate Phillipe and Brian on the Jay Graydon interview. Great job, good read. While I knew Roger Nichols was trained as a physicist, I had no idea he is not a musician. I thought he helped write some of the Carpenters' hit songs. Whatevah. He is damn talented and arguably the third Steely Dan member. Or is that Denny Dias? Or Gary Katz?
Posted by: Bink , not LA, not even closeEnough of Pink Jordan now for a while, okay?
Posted by: W1P, LAI disagree with the idea that an artist should hit their apex and then quit. Michael Jordan did not need to retire after hitting the shot against the Jazz. Bruce was not done after Born in the USA. And The Final Cut has some damn fine work on it (a helluva lot better than some of the "greatest" music by lesser artists. But what do I know? I manage a tribute band.
Posted by: Bill, NYPhillipe, Thanks for the Jay Graydon interview!
Posted by: Gina, Sun Mountainalways cool to learn Royal Scam is also a fav among those who've worked with WB and DF. That "raw energetic" allure of the album never ceases to amaze and re-kindle the spirit :-) nice reading!
Posted by: gypsyqueeninafairytale, DAMN RIGHT,NEGATIVE GIRL IS OUTSTANDING!!!!
Posted by: Cosmic Wow, I vote for Dr. Woo Too! ;-)
Posted by: Marcelo & Jackie, Dr. Woo ???Dear Sirs,
Posted by: Q, Amen!!!
Posted by: hoops, Jay and Brian and, of course, Phillipe and Kerstin:
Posted by: Philippe Poudensan, France
It Will Come Back To You:
An Interview with "Peg" Guitarist Jay Graydon
JAY GRAYDON, has worked with Al Jarreau , Manhattan Transfer, Dionne Warwick
and a lot of others. But he is best known to Steely Dan fans for his amazing
work on "Peg". And now Jay has a recent solo album called BEBOP.
BEBOP is a straight classy and cool bebop and jazz fans should love it. Dave
Weckl is on the drums, Brandon Fields on the sax and they swing hard. There
is even a song, "Tubs" where he sounds a little more "heavy"
and that one is a killer.
The song list on BEBOP is as follows:
2. Oh Yes, There Will
3. Blow Man
4. 4.2
5. Go 'Way Moon
6. Tubs
7. C Bop
8. My Hot Girth
9. G Wizz
10. Star Spangled Banner
AIRPLAY FOR THE PLANET and BEBOP can be purchased on http://www.cdstreet.com/cgi-bin/artisthome_db.cgi?872978
Brian Sweet, author of two books about Steely Dan, conducted an interview with
Jay. It was intended for Brian's year-2000 reincarnation of Metal Leg, but unfortunately
that publication has remained dormant and the interview has not been published—until
now. With kind permission of, and thanks to Jay and Brian, here is that interview,
©2000, 2002 Jay Graydon & Brian Sweet and J. McKay. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted
here with kind permission.
B.S.: Did you know what song/solo they wanted you to work on when you came
into the studio that day?
J.G.: First, it was a night session (probably a 7:00 p.m. start). Regarding the
song title, I don't remember if I was told beforehand.
B.S.: Can you recall what they said to you as guidance?
J.G.: Donald mentioned a few suggestions - one was key! This will be explained
within the following as I will run down the session in full.
I listened to the song in full. Man, I was impressed - the composition, arrangement,
vocal performance, and feel was outstanding! Rick's high-hat "tilt"
knocked me out!
Within the first hour, I mostly played my standard pop/pop jazz solo vocabulary
of the era hunting for melodic connections. Some of the passes were better than
average but not what was needed to really jump out as a quality solo.
We took a break and when getting back to work, Donald mentioned the key factor
regarding the approach. He said something like, "Think blues from time to
time." That was the key to the concept! Note the chord changes bounce back
and forth between a Major 7th chord and a add 2 chord with the third in the bass.
Example: C Major 7th to G2/B. With Donald's suggestion in mind, the key was to
think melodic stuff (major scale sweet notes) over the Major 7th shapes and try
to incorporate occasional blues ideas (flatted 7th and flatted 3rd) over the add
2 shapes when possible.
After a few passes, I fell into the double stop thing which is a perfect example
of the concept mentioned - bending strings between major and dominant. The guys
dug the double stop lick hence the first four bars were on tape.
The next section also kind of falls into the same concept. I switched thinking
between melodic major and dominant while walking my way down. The same applies
regarding the open string pull offs.
Note: the space (rest) between the pull off licks was not a "punch in."
I was hanging out with Larry Carlton at an AES trade show. “Peg” was
playing over the convention center muzak system and Larry said, "punch"
between the pull off licks. In a word, I said no. We both laughed.
After the completion of that phrase, four bars to go. Donald mentioned to play
a chops (fast) lick. I did so within a D major scale and then wandered my way
down the neck grabbing notes that would set up a nice transition regarding the
return of the vocal.
Regarding the fade licks, I have decided to replace a few when digital editors
allow for solo extractions/replacement. <g> What I mean is a few of the
ideas should have incorporated longer lines. Hollywood excuse - I was getting
tired since I had been working all day (starting from 10 AM). The ideas are not
bad and they stay out of the way of the vocal but if I had the opportunity to
fix the fade, I would incorporate a few bebop lines.
Note: the solo and fade licks were recorded on one track. In the 70's era of multi
track recording, typically, the format used was 24 track analog. Unless the song
is loaded up with many overdubs, open tracks are typically available but since
they were near completion of the song, the guys were running out of tracks. They
also wanted to keep previous solos - not sure how many were kept.
The problem regarding recording on one track is obvious - when the record button
is engaged and the tape passes over the erase head, farewell to the previous ideas
played.
The odds are good I left out a few details as the night I speak of occurred more
than 20 years ago.
B.S.: Did Becker/Fagen tell you how many other guitarists had tried the solo
prior to you being hired?
J.G. I was told there were many solos recorded before I was hired as the
following will explain.
I was hired to arrange/play on a project, unfortunately, I can’t remember
the artist or producer's name but I do remember the musical content was better
than average. Roger Nichols was engineering the sessions. During one of the guitar
overdub sessions (ABC records, studio "A" which was also used for a
few "Dan" records), Roger mentioned that Donald and Walter had gone
through many players regarding a solo on one song and were not happy with the
results. Roger said he would ask the guys to hire me (which obviously happened).
A note about Roger: He is not a musician but has a talent rarely found in non-musician
engineers. "Punching in" within very tight spots requires counting beats
with extreme accuracy. Not just 1/4 notes, but small divisions such as punching
in on a 16th note of a beat. No problem for Roger! He can accurately punch in
and out at the same spot over and over without clipping (erasing) anything on
either side of the performance!!!
B.S.: Do you have a favorite guitar? Did you use that one for the solo? Did
you try out a lot of other guitars first before you got the sound they liked?
J.G.: In that era, I played a 1963 Gibson 335 for most all electric guitar studio
work. I used that guitar for the session. The amp used is a Fender Deluxe highly
modified by Paul Rivera. I also used an Orange
Squeezer compressor and volume pedal. These days, I mostly play a signature guitar
made by BOSSA (Japan) and run it through my signature amp (The Rake Head or Jake
Studio Combo) manufactured by Paul Rivera.
Are you thinking something like, "Man, this Jay guy just tossed out Hollywood
jive advertisement which has nothing to do with the story?" If so, you are
half correct - the Hollywood part is the advertisement but the guitar and amp
are exceptional tools!
OK, back to the record date. The following is a block layout of the set up. Note
I was playing in the control room and the amp was in the studio.
• The orange squeezer was plugged into the 335 output jack.
• A
6 foot guitar cable was plugged between the orange squeezer output and volume
pedal input.
• A 30 foot cable was plugged between the volume pedal
output and amp input.
Regarding the volume pedal, you would
think no reason to plug in unless "volume swells' were needed. In this
case, it was used as to eliminate amp noise before the solo entrance and
the tail of the solo. Why? Simple - mixing automation was not yet available.
Before automation, the mixing engineer performed many manual level moves.
Catching track mutes tightly was not priority. With that in mind, since
I was using a distortion gain structure, the noise level is quite high.
As to help out the mixing engineer, I used the volume pedal to eliminate
amp noise when not playing.
B.S.: What studio(s) was it recorded at?
J.G.: Village Recorders, studio "A."
B.S.: Was it done in one/two session(s)?
J.G.: Including set up time, dialing in the sound, breaks, we spent a total of
around four to five hours.
B.S.: Were Becker, Fagen and Katz there throughout?
J.G.: All were in attendance. Walter hung out on the control room couch and maybe
said a total of ten words while we were working. On the breaks, we hung out in
the lounge and all exchanged stories.
This reminds me of something I love about these guys. Both Walter and Donald are
extremely intelligent. Gary is surely bright and the main connection regarding
business land. When the guys talk about most anything, they might add a twist
of intellectual humor that would go unnoticed by many. Further, these guys are
not "Hollywood" on any level! You gotta love that!
Regarding the non- Hollywood thing, I recently heard some current artist flavor
of the month asked for free concert tickets. The request was denied. The Dan cats
could care less about the commercial flavor of the month! Most amusing!
B.S.: Did Gary Katz have any input into the process of getting your solo on
tape?
J.G.: No. As mentioned, the dialog regarding the solo was between Donald and me.
Since all of these guys are very intelligent, maybe they communicate telepathically
hence no need for spoken words regarding musical decisions. <g>
B.S.: Becker and Fagen have since said your solo has an almost Polynesian feel
to it. Was that ever in your mind at the time?
J.G.: No. That information is obviously from the AJA video regarding the first
four bars of the solo (as that was the only section played before comment). Donald
mentioned the Polynesian thing and Walter then mentioned something like, "Kind
of Hawaiian" As stated, keep in mind some of their "rap" will have
sideways humor from time to time.
I recently read a review on the solo - the writer mentioned "Western style."
Once again, this must relate to the double stop bending as well as the pull off
licks.
I enjoy the fact the solo is analyzed within many musical categories whether a
serious evaluation, or not. No way to "bag" this solo as the following
will explain. If a Polynesian, Hawaiian, or a Country/Western musician was asked
to analyze the solo, the odds are good they would say the solo sounds like a pop
solo.
By the way, I must give Amos Garret credit for the double stop bending concept.
In the early seventies, I heard the song, "Midnight At The Oasis." His
solo is outstanding! Other than the double stop stuff, he plays a very cool phrase
that starts with an open E 7th (3rd, 4th, and 5th strings) and slides/hammers
on up the scale (A cord to B minor to E 9). A delicious ear candy phrase for sure!
B.S.: The track has a great Chuck Rainey/Rick Marotta groove. Were you inspired
by that groove?
As mentioned, Rick's feel is outstanding! Chuck always plays great! The bass part
includes nuances that are most delicious. Also, the muted guitar part feels great!
I seem to remember Steve Khan played that part. Yea, the groove inspired me!
B.S.: Did you have Donald's vocal to listen to on the track?
J.G.: Yes. The odds are good it was the final vocal. Man, Donald has great sounding
pipes!
B.S.: “Peg” is your only Steely Dan credit; did you play on any other
of their sessions/songs? If so, which ones?
J.G.: The “Peg” solo constitutes my one and only Steely Dan musical
contribution. This was not the only work call from the Dan camp - shortly after
the “Peg” solo, Irving Azoff called to ask if I would go on the road
with the band. At that point in time, I passed for two reasons - in that era,
I disliked air travel as well as the fact I was working ten to twenty sessions
a week.
Keep in mind that when a studio player goes on the road for months, when returning
to town, the odds are good a few accounts will be lost. Never forget a studio
player has zero work security! If the player is not available, the next cat gets
a chance and if a great player, the cat gets the account. I know of at least one
first call studio guitarist that never took vacations as to protect his work.
Funny how things transpire - the tour did not happen. If I had accepted the gig,
the word would have hit the streets and the odds are good some of my accounts
would not know the tour was cancelled unless notified.
Keep in mind that during the time frame of the solo, I thought I would be playing
record dates for the rest of my life hence the thoughts mentioned. Surely a great
way to make a living but shortly thereafter, I realized that song writing and
record production was the next growth step.
Note: within the TWO AGAINST NATURE ["Steely Dan's Plush TV Jazz-Rock Party"]
DVD, the Dan fan club cat [Pete Fogel] mentions some alumni players are pissed
off they did not get called to work on "follow up" albums.
I am not one of those players for two reasons:
1. Pro studio players loose and gain accounts. If working, that is the
key. Thinking about accounts lost, is useless.
2. As a record producer that tries to make quality records, I understand
why the guys experiment with many musicians. Keep in mind the Dan is not a formula
band and not Hollywood on any level. Further, the guys are famous for not considering
the allowed budget and get away with spending all that is needed! Very rare! Experimentation
is one reason their records still sound fresh.
Moreover, such alumni players cut the gig (if not, they would have been replaced).
As Dan alumni, the odds are good they were hired for other artist sessions for
that reason alone. Sour grapes is useless on all levels.
B.S.: Did Becker/Fagen tell you of a recording of yours which was a favorite
of theirs and which convinced them to hire you?
J.G.: Not sure if they had heard me play before working together. Within recent
e-mail communication with Walter, he mentioned he has kept up with my career.
Probably the reason I did not get a call back. <g>
I feel that my musical career runs a similar path as the Dan. I make Pop records
that occasionally include songs with jazz chord changes and slightly off the wall
melodies. Such offerings are not very commercial.
B.S.: What else, if anything, can you recall about that day?
J.G.: I ate Indian food between the morning double session and the Dan session.
<g>
B.S.: When you left the studio did you know that you had nailed it? Indeed,
did they tell you had nailed it?
J.G.: I thought my performance was just sideways enough to make it on the record.
I can't remember if they said it was a "keeper." Keep in mind that as
a studio player, the performance is not etched in vinyl (the old days) until the
record is pressed for sale.
By the way, when the session concluded, I asked to hear the other solos. I remember
a few were good. When watching the AJA video, other than my solo, two others were
played. The odds are good both were not the solos I had heard. If those were the
only other solos kept on tape, it is possible the guys may have experimented with
other overdubs (needing open tracks), which would have lead to erasing some of
the kept solos.
B.S.: Are you a fan of Steely Dan?
J.G.: Absolutely! A quick story. I remember working a double session with Jeff
Porcaro and during the lunch break; we went to his pad as he wanted me to dig
a pre release tape of the KATY LIED record. Man, a pop band that was into hip
chord changes with hip melodies, great lyrics, and great solos! Total ear candy!
From then on, I paid attention to all of their musical offerings.
B.S.: What is your favorite SD song/album and why?
J.G.: "FM" is my favorite song. I was playing a session at Village Recorders
(studio B) and was told the guys were working in Studio A. I walked in as to say
hi. Donald was working on the vocal and after he fixed a few things, they played
the track in full. I was totally floored! Further, Walter's solo is his best ever
- the last two notes are total ear candy!
After the play-back, I asked Donald who wrote the string arrangement. He stated
it was penned by Johnny Mandel. Years later, I hired Johnny to write string arrangements
for a Dionne Warwick album I was producing. I mentioned the voicings he used for
FM are most delicious and wanted similar voicings on one of the songs. He said,
"You mean the voicings you want to stick your **** into." (Edited for
a PG audience).
My favorite Dan album is THE ROYAL SCAM. The last of the raw energetic recordings.
I love Larry Carlton's playing throughout!!!! Don't get me wrong, all the albums
that followed are great but this is my favorite as a whole.
B.S.: Have you heard TWO AGAINST NATURE and if so, how does it compare with
their earlier work?
J.G.: I bought the CD within the first few days of release. "Negative Girl"
is outstanding!!!!!!! I have listened to this song at least 50 times so far! About
a month ago during my daily run, I ran into Dean Parks on the trail. We talked
about the album and the song mentioned. Dean summed up this song perfectly - you
can listen to the song over and over and every time, the chord changes are a surprise.
Regarding comparing to other albums, the word on the street is the recording does
not show growth - too much blues stuff. I do not agree. Again, "Negative Girl" is
worth the price of the CD as the song is surely a classic! "Cousin Dupree" is surely
a venture into no-no lyric land. The "Gas Light" song has a lyric most outstanding!
Most all cuts included ear candy on some level.
B.S.: Walter is very modest about his guitar playing abilities, and yet he
does almost all the solos on their recent album. How would you characterize his
guitar playing?
J.G.: Every quality player is humble regarding their playing. If not, the growth
stops.
Regarding how I characterize Walter's playing, he is blues based while twisting
in occasional ear candy left field melodic licks. Most important to note he does
not sound like any other guitarist!
In conclusion, Steely Dan has broken the rules on all levels but continues to
be extremely successful - no pretty boy looks, music content that is sophisticated,
etc. In my book, the best pop band of all time!
VITAL INFO ON JAY GRAYDON
Jay Graydon Official Web Site:
http://www.jaygraydon.com
To buy Jay's albums:
http://www.cdstreet.com
Jay's artist page at CDstreet:
http://www.cdstreet.com/cgi-bin/artisthome_db.cgi?872978
To contact Jay:
jaygraydon@icestorm.net or sonicthrustrecords@yahoo.com
Jay's record label SONIC THRUST RECORDS presentation page
http://www.jaygraydon.com/sonictxt.htm
©2000, 2002 Jay Graydon & Brian Sweet and J. McKay. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED
HERE WITH KIND PERMISSION.
Posted by: fezo, Dave: I never thought many considered "The Long Run" to be a classic. I always figured it was the follow-up The Police looked at when they were contemplating a new one after Synchronicity and said oh fuck it, we should have the sense to quit recording when we're still at the top
Posted by: Some Bozo, Hank
Posted by: Hank Silvers, A moment of silence for Waylon Jennings, who in the late 70's recorded "Do It Again."
Posted by: luckless pedestrian, @coffeeHey, Happy Valentines Day to the high falootin' bluebook, especially you hoops!
Posted by: mark, It never ceases to amaze me the number of phony autographs
Posted by: hoops, Congratulations to Peg, Miz Ducky, and, of course, Mr. Rag!
Posted by: which one is Steely Dan?, Another Glitch in the Call
Posted by: hoops, Wow: I agree with O. Slays big time. Maybe your booth would scan nipples for hardness as well on a scale of butter to diamonds.
Posted by: oleander, wowedCo/s/mic Wow--Is that an Official Entry? I sure hope so--it slays. E me if you want to submit.
Posted by: Boston Rag, New Metheny is great!Hey!
Posted by: Dave, Hi!
Posted by: adam, sweet's books
Posted by: angel, The only written comment I have come across, is in the remastered Katy Lied liner notes. It is toward the end, if you want to check it out.
Posted by: Jerry Mammoser, D.C., What is the general consensus on Brian Sweet's biography, "Steely Dan"? I'm finding it quite interesting, but don't know its accuracy. Any comments? Hemiola's Hockets or Manneries?
Posted by: Lester the Dayfly, Roasting WB On His BDNext Wednesday, February 20, the feckless Nigey Lennon and John Tabacco will be co-hosting a radio special on WUSB, Stony Brook, NY (90.1 FM, netcast via Real Audio at www.wusb.org) from 7-9 a.m. Eastern time. (Not bad timing if you're a European listener.) The program is in honor of Walter Becker's 52nd birthday (poor slob -- he was probably depressed enough about it already, and now here we go drawing further attention to his existential slump toward oblivion :)). We'll be playing rare Dan/Becker and/or Fagen tracks, spewing forth Dannish extrapolations, and who knows, if we're really lucky, Walter himself might even call in and make intellectual mincemeat out of us. (Ha! At 7 a.m., when he and Fagen have been putting in overtime at the studio so they can get the new CD into the hands of Dandom before summer? Fat chance!)
Posted by: Earl, DelawareKarl,
Posted by: Comic Wow, As long as we're asking if Steely Dan had a song about baseball players or footeball players or lesbians, let's ponder this question today. Have Steely Dan ever written a song about Abraham Lincoln?
Posted by: John, near AjoMy preferred set list:
Posted by: oleander, go get pissed somewhere elseKarl--Depends on what you mean by real. Yes, it is a real contest. No, it is not a real opportunity to design the real HOF exhibit.
Posted by: Karl Reichter, Ames, IowaI see that Jon Herington is adverstised in Hamer ads as being with Steely Dan. Would this mean he's on the next album?
Posted by: mark, Is there a website for Hyperbolic Sound ? Does any band
Posted by: Ellen Brenner, Seattle, WA, USAHi Hoops
and Oleander--
http://www.drizzle.com/~mizducky
Seattle, WA, USA
Posted by: Zamorano, Any idea if the boys are fans of Sports, I can't help but think that Donald Likes Basketball, with the references in Glamour Profession and his remarks during the 2000 tour in Portland when the Lakers were playing the Trailblazers. What do you know about this?
Posted by: Clas, fucktownGina - I am doing an Oleander. The first time she came to the Yellow Book I was discussing Randy Newman with RubyBaby. Oleander just came in in our discussion and said:
Posted by: Chris a.k.a. Razor Boy, In front of my computer
Posted by: Oleander & hoops, THE STEELY CHARETTE
http://www.flathat.net/charette
Posted by: Mike, Louisville, KYPeg: Actually it WAS 1 and not 2 that I wanted. I think 2 is a better song, but I think 1 would be very nice live. Actually, I probably just want to see the female choir move to that one.
Posted by: Little Wild One, work@HoustonLike the great majority of us, I'm not choosy when it comes to the Dan on tour. Nevertheless, my tour wish list includes:
Posted by: Peg, In the Amen Corner nowI say "amen" to Mike's list of songs we can do without during the next tour. Yeesh. To be honest, I just have never liked FM much, and that's very likely because I associate it with that rotten movie.
Posted by: She's a Beauty, One In A Million GirlsThe Tubes' Vince Welnick played for the Dead. With a simple Dead to Dan conversion, I'm sure it's not too much of a stretch to convert Tubes to Steely Dan.
Posted by: hoops, E-mail-less againWelp! Email-less again but there is that loverly Web access.
Posted by: W1P, LAElaine, I've been fine -- thanks for asking. Paladino's should be fun tonight although its a shame that the promoter replaced the Steely Fan Band with a Yes tribute. There's no question that Rog is no Don. But then again Michael Jordan is no Shaq if you know what I mean. I don't know why I took so much time off from the Blue but I'm so glad that there is a forum like this where all things tangentially Dan can be discussed! Next topic -- what would the Dan sound like playing the Tubes? "spent my cash on every high I could find"
Posted by: Gina, Sun MountainAloha Clas, these few words of yours give away a view and humor i like :-) Into making new habits, are ya?
Posted by: Clas, ZurichEnough of Pink Floyd now for a while okay?
Posted by: Elaine, Covina, CAHi!
Posted by: W1P, Although Roger Waters does not have too sharp a sense of irony, he also does not suffer fools gladly. There are a number of Pink Floyd songs that could sound very interesting interpreted by a Walt/Don touring band. For example, Have A Cigar -- using a horn section in place of the signature keyboard and slight lyric change "The band is just fantastic, I really am a fan, oh by the way, which one's Dan?" -- the slings and arrows at the record industry would not sound out of place in Fagen's voice. Interestingly enough, neither David Gilmour nor Roger Waters did the vocals on Have A Cigar -- the vocals were handled by Roy Harper (a decision later regretted by Roger, whose voice was too tired from singing Shine On You Crazy Diamond) -- so the idea of Don singing the song is quite appealling. Another appropriate choice would be "Free Four" "The memories of a man in his old age are the deeds of a man in his prime. You shuffle in the gloom of the sickroom and talk to yourself as you die." Now, admittedly, Walt/Don are not normally this morbid, but the song has this jaunty pop beat coupled with downbeat lyrics -- somewhat similar to the Dan. I know, I'm a Floydhead. But I'd love to see the results of such a radical alchemy!
Posted by: Mike, Louisville, KYWhat I want to see the band play next tour:
Posted by: Song & Dance, Next tour I'd like Donald and Walter to duet on a new song about former Enron Execs. Now bankrupt, the execs live on the subways of New York. Each verse would end at the end of the line of the subway. Then they would drag their belongings off one train and back over to the subway across the platform, headed back into Manhattan and across into Queens. Each verse could be about their escapades on the subway. Sex in an unused engineer's control cab, an exec who now uses the cab signalling cabinet as the place to store his cheap wine, or finding cheap meaty treats on the tracks, cooked to perfction on the third rail. Or maybe they'd use the third rail to pop popcorn. reminicening about those oild mega buck clam bakes with high price call girls.
Posted by: delic', Donald performing Pink Floyd's Money would be delic'!
Posted by: W1P, wch1ispink@aol.comI vote for With A Gun, Pearl of the Quarter, Here at the Western World, Second Arrangement and Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Parts I-IX.
Posted by: edbeatty, West of My nomination for songs to be played on the next tour
Posted by: Dave, The Complete Aja as the second set would be COOL!
Posted by: John, Erie, PAI would just like them to play "Don't Take Me Alive" again next tour. Ever notice how casual fans call it "Bookkeepers' Son?"
Posted by: StAlphonzo, Puke book back online...
Posted by: Cosmic Wow, For the 2002 Tour, Walter should sing lead on Everything You Did.
Posted by: Clas, South Stockholm, Minnesotarub-a-dodo: They were saving parts of their fee for a rainy day.
Posted by: Rub-a-dub-dub, Name the Dan cover band whose lead singer had pastic surgery to look like Fagen.
Posted by: Keith, Next Tour
Posted by: Bill, The Great BeyondHey Y'all,
a few songs on it that crank (e.g. "Don't take me alive").
I mean, I like Jazz and all but let's not get too carried
away with it ok? I mean we need some hardcore, high-powered,
rock thrown in there once in a while just to spice things
up. I hope that Becker and that other guy are listening...
Posted by: Wah Wah Wah, East St LouisEast St. Louis Toodle-Oo was completely TITS as the intro to the Roseland show. Second set in ''96 too. Would be cool to have back, but not at the expense of my choice for second set opener------Gold Teeth II.
Posted by: R J, I got my mitts on the November 1995 issue of Mojo with Becker and Fagen on the cover. Becker looks so happy! In case you haven't seen it, the story, by Any Gill, starts,
Posted by: W1P, Lost AngelesSome quick info since the Yellow is down. Sun 2/17 (the day before Prez Day) The Steely Damned is playing the Cannibal Bar at the Catamaran Resort in Mission Beach. I plan on attending along with my lovely wife April, a lawyer friend of mine from Miami and her crazy Danish husband (a doctor we call "Dr. Mike"), and my wife's friend "Schled" from Boston by way of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. These geographically disparate folks have been hearing me sing the praises of the Damned for years and they're coming to see it for themselves.
Posted by: hoops, Will there be a new tour this year? I dunno.
Posted by: Chips, Is it safe in here? Can I post something?
Posted by: hoops, You know, "puke" was one of my punchline words back when I was five years old. An oldie, but not goodie, not even up there enough to rank on Steely Dan's "List of Words NOT to Use In Songs." Insults hurled (pun intended?) even at myself can be amusing if witty, but am I or any Dan fan supposed to find "puke" an amusing witticism? I haven't yanked a post without the poster's request since last summer and I sure won't in this case: the poster deserves the embarrassment.
Posted by: StAlphonzo, Since I know many of the "puke" book regulars visit this guestbook as well, I wanted to let you know why the site is down.
Posted by: Clas, BostonM Ruff - the Puke Book? What's that?
Posted by: Michael Ruff, Maui,HIClas-
Posted by: eight oh three, where the heck did the yellow GB go?
Posted by: hoops, Where da heck is John G.?I guess what I was saying in a round about way:
Posted by: Boston Rag, Rockin' in BeantownThanks Hoops for your kind words. Maybe next year it will be a 1986 Bears - Patriots rematch in the Superbowl!
Posted by: hoops, wanting to be in BahstinOnce again, Mark and Bill throw the Danfest of the year! Leave it to those two to organize the Pat's Superbowl win! I suspect that Joe and his in-laws and Mr. and Mrs. Big Fan also had something to do with it ;-)
http://www.dandom.com/idanvention/71500-boston/index.html
Posted by: Beautiful Housewife, in design distressLet me get this straight...
Posted by: Clas, Stockholm, SwissEnough of the Superbowl now for a while, okay?
Posted by: Chris Mueller, on Hyndford St.Hoops: was surprised to hear you're the erstwhile coordinator of a Van Morrison Digest. It'd be cool to see that resurrected . . . there's just not the kind of VM community on the internet that there is for SD.
Posted by: Earl, DelawareOH Man...I missed it. That's the problem with these 48 hour Super Bowl Pre-weekend shows, followed by the 24 hour Pre-PreGame Excretion for the Players show, followed by the 20 minute Pregame Excretion for the Players show (so everyone knows that the players give a shit about the game), followed by the 4 hour Pregame Excretion for the Fans show (to show the fans give a shit about the game), followed by the normal 6 hours of pregame coverage before each respective week of the season. Then followed by 60 minutes of football wrapped into a 5 hour package.
Posted by: Boston Rag, Home Of The Superbowl ChampsWoooooooo Hoooooo! I don't know if I jumped higher out of my chair when Adam kicked the 48 yard winner or when TAN was announced as Album of The Year.
Posted by: Little Wild One, HoustonDid everyone catch the SD intro-a-trois fabulously showcased during the Bradshaw/Bledsoe/Brady interview during the Super Bowl pregame? Best of the Best, IMHO.
Posted by: Dave, RJ, I think and hope you are right.
Posted by: R J, The photo on the SteelyDan.com homepage suggests that Donald and Walter are in Maui working on the album. Two chairs on a Hawaiian Beach! WOO HOOOOO!
Posted by: Mike, Louisville, KYJohn : Interesting request.
Posted by: John, Erie PAHello.
Posted by: hoops, eschewing the karmaI'd also be interested in players with CD-V support.
Posted by: Echoing the Karma, I echo that Karma. I have a CD-Video from Europe of New Frontier. Is there any current DVD players that will let me see this? I'll even dup it for others. If you are nice.
Posted by: analog karma, washington, dcgreetings and salutations, dan fans. can anybody tell me where i can get my grubby mitts on a copy of don's 'new frontier' video? my search has been fruitless thus far...
Posted by: Mike From Queens AKA Dragon Chaser, Queens NYHey to everyone at the Boston Rag especially to Bill and Mark hope your Pats do well and bring you a championship.
Posted by: Cosmic Wow, Yo Hoopsie!